BRIGHOUSE cannot say they weren’t warned.

Rob Hopley scored twice against them on his debut for Witton Albion last season and his latest goals, all three of them, sent them tumbling from the FA Trophy.

For two of those he was afforded the luxury of wide open space inside the West Yorkshire outfit’s penalty area, suggesting they had forgotten him.

It proved to be a costly memory lapse.

The teams were more closely-matched than the score-line suggests, but Carl Macauley’s men hit the net three times in less than quarter of an hour at the start of the second period to settle the outcome.

And the spotlight will remain on Hopley after the first qualifying round draw paired Witton with Colwyn Bay – a club where he spent eight seasons before signing for Albion last November.

He set them on a course for North Wales as early as the fourth minute, escaping the attention of his marker before meeting a corner with the firmest of headers.

The hosts’ initial lead was fleeting, though, and it was not long before Brighouse forward Ruben Jerome looped a header over goalkeeper Danny Roberts after meeting Greg Pearson’s free kick.

Albion teetered, and Sam Hewitt’s attempt hit the crossbar following another set piece.

When Luke Parkin’s effort struck the outside of an upright, the visitors could rightly curse their luck.

They had nobody but themselves to blame for falling behind a second time though.

Tolani Omotola was swift to intercept a loose pass, and waited for the last defender to commit before nudging the balls into Hopley’s path.

His first touch left him face-to-face with Brighouse custodian Tom Taylor while his second, the deftest of connections with his left instep, was a cute lofted finish.

Captain Paul Williams did not emerge for the second period after taking a knock to an ankle, but it did not matter.

Albion added to their advantage in the simplest fashion, Hopley flicking on Roberts’ punt forward.

Alert, Omotola danced around Taylor before sliding into an empty net after anticipating his strike-partner would leap highest.

Brighouse made a double change and were still adjusting when Hopley, with no defender nearby, stretched to divert a cross from the right out of Taylor’s reach on 57 minutes.

And the away side’s net-minder was left clutching at air again when Albion next attacked, unable to stop Tom Owens’ curling shot from creeping inside the far post.

At 5-1, it was game over with less than an hour played.

Witton, understandably, relaxed – almost too much.

Full-back Wes Benjamin, under pressure from an opponent, headed Leon Osborne’s centre onto his own crossbar.

Ben Atkinson then timed a run from midfield perfectly to steer substitute Jacob Buchanan’s cross past Roberts with an emphatic volley on 77 minutes.

Albion’s number one also scrambled to parry when Jerome met another Buchanan assist with his heel.

Even if it had sneaked in, it would not have changed the conclusion that Witton were worthy winners.

Witton | 4-3-3 | Roberts (GK), Benjamin (Adigun 80), Brown, Wilson, Devine, Reeves, Williams (Hickman 46), Owens, Omotola (Noon 76), Hopley, Bauress Sub not used Garner (GK) Goals Hopley 4, 25, 57 Omotola 51 Owens 59

Brighouse | 4-4-2 | Taylor (GK), Pollard, Hewitt, Illingworth (Low 55), Pearson, Osborne (Frost 76), Atkinson, Haigh, Bunch (Buchanan 55), Jerome, Parkin Subs not used Field, Hall (GK) Goals Jerome 12, Atkinson 77

Referee Wade Smith

Attendance 235