THE Sydenhams Wessex League can boast an extra club in the FA Vase first round proper after Christchurch took full advantage of their reprieve.
Division One outfit Priory beat Westbury United 1-0 in Wednesday’s re-staged second qualifying round tie thanks to Kieran Douglas’s 62nd-minute header from Matty Neale’s corner.
Despite suffering a 5-2 extra-time defeat at Westbury’s Meadow Lane ground when the teams initially met on Saturday, September 23, Christchurch lived to fight another day because the opposition fielded a fourth substitute against competition rules.
Ollie Cherrett's men were handed another chance to progress, this time on home soil, against the Western League Division One table-toppers and their Hurn Bridge triumph earns them a home tie against Wessex One rivals US Portsmouth tomorrow week (October 21).
FA Vase first round ties (to be played Saturday, October 21): AFC Portchester v Cullompton Rangers, Baffins Milton Rovers v Radstock Town, Bashlety v Bridgwater Town, Brockenhurst v Crediton Utd, Christchurch v US Portsmouth, Fareham Town v Ivybridge Town, Farnham Town v Lymington Town, Frimley Green v Blackfield & Langley, Hengrove Athletic v Alton, Highworth Town v Sholing, Newport IW v Bovey Tracey, Portland Utd v Horndean, Romsey Town v Hamble Club, Wellington AFC v Downton.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here