For first round

If Johnson’s wasted opportunity didn’t knock any remaining wind out of the Bishops’ sails, Lloyd’s stunning second three minutes later finished the job.

Midfielder Gary Stopforth - catching the eye of the Edgeley Park faithful with a string of energetic performances in recent weeks – raced down the left wing, shrugging off a foul from Auckland captain Ross Colquhoun in the process, to tee up the onrushing Lloyd on the edge of the penalty area.

Lloyd took one steadying touch with his favoured left foot before unleashing a rising effort past Wilczynski with his weaker right to seal the win for County before the interval.

Any thoughts of an Auckland fightback after the break were shortly dispelled, with Gannon’s charges racking up seven more corners in the second half and a host of chances on goal.

One criticism of the inform Hatters will be the spurning of a number of glorious opportunities in front of goal, as the afternoon could have conceivably ended in a five or six goal rout.

Lloyd, eager to secure his first hattrick of a superb start to life at Edgeley Park, looped a half-volley just wide of Wilczynski’s near post just seconds into the restart, whilst Amis headed two half-chances wide of, and over, the post and crossbar respectively.

Goalscoring defender Clarke, a striker at previous club Northwich before Gannon’s intervention, fizzed a powerful effort straight at the busy Auckland ‘keeper while defensive partner Chris Smalley wildly blazed a close range strike wide of the upright.

There were no more attempts on goal for the Bishops who had done themselves proud in front of over 200 travelling supports, and who would later earn the applause of the home supporters as the game came to an end.

But for The Hatters, substitute Craig Carney entered the fray to miss two big chances for his first competitive County goal.

Firstly, the lively central midfielder – who is proving a shrewd addition to the squad by Gannon, making an impact in recent weeks off the bench to help secure a string of victories - headed straight at Wilczynski, before waltzing round full-back Andre Bennett in stoppage time only to hack his effort into the Cheadle End.

But the cruising Hatters had already done enough to make it three wins out of three in October, with players, officials and supporters alike seeing County drawn out against either of the two National League strugglers Torquay or Woking (lying 18th and 20th in the division respectively) in the live first round draw on Monday night.

But, after more cup success for Gannon and his men, attention will now switch back towards making a dash for the play-off places of the National League North, with a tough trip to third-placed Chorley quickly approaching.