Aylesbury manager Steve Cordery said: "I was very pleased with the performance at the weekend. We had watched them and done our homework. We had an excellent first half and got our two goals early on. In fact, we could have been three or four up by half-time because we started so well. So it was a great performance and a fantastic day for everyone around the club.

"There were marvellous scenes of emotion at the final whistle. The fans were jubilant and they have been fantastic for us all the way through our Trophy run. And the players were relieved because there was an intense build-up to the Gloucester match. So everyone let it go and just celebrated at the end. Let's hope we can go all the way now."

Aylesbury have been drawn against Burscough of the UniBond League Premier Division in the two legged semi-final. The first leg will be at home on Saturday, April 5, with the return at Burscough a week later. The other semi-final has paired Tamworth with Havant & Waterlooville - both Dr Martens League Premier Division sides.

 Cordery said: "Everybody will say the same thing. At this stage, there will be no easy tie and no easy games. But being honest, Burscough and ourselves are probably the two weakest teams left in it. We both have lowly positions in our respective league tables. So it will be an interesting tie over the two legs and we will look forward to it.

"We are well aware that Burscough won at Conference leaders Yeovil in Saturday's quarter-finals. That was the result of the round, or the result of whole competition really. It means we won't be taking Burscough lightly at all. If they can beat Yeovil then they can beat anyone."

So with the Conference representation eradicated from the Trophy, the competition is wide open this year. And Cordery is happy with that scenario.

"I think it is amazing that all the Conference clubs have been knocked out. Yeovil were the favourites and it is almost unbelievable that Burscough beat them on Saturday. But I firmly believe that the gap between the Conference and its feeder leagues is getting closer and closer. The results in the Trophy this season have proved it.

"I think that is good for the competition. It gives everyone in the feeder leagues a lift and makes us all feel we are in with a chance. Canvey Island of the Ryman League have won the Trophy in the past and we hope to follow in their footsteps."

Cordery maintains that the Trophy is the icing on the cake at Aylesbury. But his bread and butter is league points, which have now become a major concern - especially with four clubs being relegated from the Ryman Premier this season.

"You try not to think about the possibility of reaching the FA Trophy Final. It is very difficult, but I cannot to look too far ahead. The most important thing for us at the moment is our league survival. I can understand that it will be hard for my players to focus on that, but we have to. We've got to work hard and get some points on the board.

"It is very important for us to stay up this year. We came off the pitch on Saturday celebrating a great win in the Trophy when someone handed me a piece of paper saying we had slipped into the bottom four due to other league results. But we have a number of games in hand on the clubs around us. If we can perform to the best of our ability - like we have done in the FA Trophy - then I don't think we will have any problems. I feel we are in a false position in the league, but how many people have said that in the past and then suffered? So we have to keep our eye on the ball and focus on getting some league wins under our belt, because our main priority is that we cannot be relegated."

The last two months of the season will be a hectic and important time for Aylesbury United.

from Tony Incenzo