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The home side didn't have to get out of first gear against a poor Braintree side, who seemed more intent on provoking mass brawls than actually playing football in the second half.
On at least two occasions innocuous looking tackles from Chalmers, and Charles saw the Essex team's players over-react to the situation - but sensible refereeing from Mr Hooper diffused the problem.
The Shots made two changes from Tuesday's victorious team against Oxford.
Captain Rhys Day replaced Winfield and Smith came in for Rob Gier.
The game was slow to get going and nothing of note happened in the opening quarter of an hour.
Indeed the first attempt at goal saw the Shots take the lead on 17 minutes.
An exquisite pass from Chalmers in the centre of midfield found John Grant inside the visitor's box.
The Shots leading marksman controlled the ball well before firing a half volley from 15 yards, past Morgan and via the inside of the post, into the net.
Soon after a Danny Hylton effort was well pushed away by the keeper.
On 25 minutes Anthony Straker did well to get to the bye-line, and his subsequent cross-cum-shot trickled across the 6 yard box and went just wide of the far post.
Louis Soares took a knock and he was replaced by Scott Davies in the 34th minute.
The first attempt from the visitors came from Brad Quinton, who hooked his effort a yard over.
John Grant then outmuscled his defender deep inside the box, before striking his effort across the keeper, but just wide.
Braintree's best effort of the half came from Robbie Martin, but his dipping effort went inches over.
A good run from Straker in injury time set up John Grant but his fierce effort was directed straight at the keeper.
Half Time: Shots 1 - Braintree 0
The Shots were very lackadaisical immediately after the break, and the visitors had their best spell of the game.
In the 46th minute Quinton was put through and he fizzed his effort narrowly wide of the far post, with Bull well beaten.
Dean Smith was then caught out of position and substitute Sullivan saw his effort deflected just wide.
At the other end the Shots came close to doubling their advantage in the 51st minute.
John Grant chased down a ball which saw keeper Morgan and one of his defenders leaving it for each other to deal with.
The keeper finally cleared it but only to Hylton 20 yards out, and his lobbed effort looked like it was heading for the empty net before clipping the post and going wide.
Two minutes later the Shots did extend their lead and what a screamer it was.
Ben Harding was given too much time and space 22 yards out and he made the visitors pay, when unleashing a rocket into the top corner.
The visitors almost replied immediately with a replica effort, but Sullivan's thunderbolt crashed against the bar, and the ball was cleared to safety.
The Shots were now dominating the game, with Harding and Chalmers running the midfield and Hylton running riot up front.
The Shots were guilty of overplaying a golden opportunity in the 67th minute.
After good linkup play from Joel Grant, his name sake John found Scott Davies unmarked on the right hand side of the box. With no defenders in sight and Chalmers at the side of him, the Reading loanee tried to set up his team mate instead of shooting and the chance was lost.
Kirk Hudson made a welcome return to action after injury, when he replaced Joel Grant on 75 minutes. He was involved in the action straight away when, after excellent play from Hylton set him up, his effort was well saved at the near post by Morgan.
Rob Elvins then replaced Danny Hylton, who received a well deserved ovation from the Rec faithful.
Elvins then did well to send Hudson clear down the Shots right, and his precise cross found John Grant. The Shots striker controlled the ball well and his curling effort went just wide.
However seconds later he made no mistake when grabbing his second and the Shots third. Scott Davies got to the bye-line and drilled the ball across for him to slide the ball home at the far post.
The last chance of the match fell to Elvins, but after Chalmers set him with quickly taken free kick, he dragged his effort horribly wide.
The Shots will be hoping for a home tie in Monday's draw as a Wembley appearance gets ever closer.
TS Ratings:
Bull 6.5, Smith 5, Straker 7, Chalmers 7.5, Day 7, Charles 7.5, Soares 5 (Davies 7), Harding 8, John Grant 7.5, Hylton 7.5 (Elvins), Joel Grant 5 (Hudson).
With thanks to Tongham Shots.