It's the semi-finals of The FA Vase, in partnership with Carlsberg, this weekend.



TheFA.com caught up with Maldon Town manager Colin Wallington and his star striker Robbie Reinelt ahead of their clash against title-favourites and league rivals AFC Sudbury in the first leg on Saturday.


As a lifelong supporter of West Ham United, Colin Wallington would love nothing more than to take his side there for the final of The FA Vase, in partnership with Carlsberg.

First, he must guide his team to victory over title-favourites and league rivals AFC Sudbury in the two-legged semi-finals, which get underway on Saturday at Maldon Town.

He said: "I keep telling myself that it would not be the end of the world if we didn't get to West Ham, but unfortunately I think it would be,

"To take my team out there and win The FA Vase would mean the absolute world to me."

Maldon Town go into the semi-finals as underdogs. They have never reached this stage of this competition before and are up against a side, who in their former guise as Sudbury Town, made it to the final in 1989.

They have already been beaten by AFC Sudbury in the Jewson Eastern Counties Premier this season - and were due to have played each other in the league on Saturday.

However, AFC Sudbury know more than most that anything can happen in The FA Vase having been knocked out of last season's semi-finals by Essex underdogs, Tiptree United.

Wallington, who is in his third season as manager, said: "We are not as good as AFC Sudbury, but on our day we are a match for anybody."

He will be relying on the striking partnership of Terry Warwick and Robbie Reinelt, who between them have scored 13 goals in this season's competition.

Reinelt, whose memorable goal kept Brighton & Hove Albion in the Football League six years ago, set Maldon Town on their way to the 3-0 victory over Devizes Town in the quarter-finals with Warwick netting the third.

Wallington said: "Robbie is a delight to work with. He is a tremendous player and has the ability to turn a game with one shot."

 

Reinelt still gets stopped in the streets by Brighton fans wanting to shake his hand for that famous goal and would love to become a hero among supporters of the club he joined from Grays Athletic this season.

The disappointment of losing in the semi-finals of The FA Trophy with Aldershot a few seasons ago is a feeling that the 29-year-old does not want to experience again.

He said: "There are not many highs in football so you have to grab them with both hands.

"Although our league form is not great at the moment, you can't knock what we have done in the Vase. We are only 180 minutes away from playing in the final at West Ham."

Reinelt has played twice at West Ham, but finished up on the losing side on both occasions. At the age of 16, he played for Aldershot against the Hammers in The FA Cup, losing 6-1, and in The FA Youth Cup, losing 3-1.

He said: "We've just got to concentrate on Saturday's game for now and not look into the future.

"We are more than happy not to be going into the semi-finals as favourites. In virtually all the rounds we have played in we have been underdogs. Everyone knows, the cup game is for underdogs."

The semi-finals of The FA Vase will be decided on Saturday, March 29, with prize money of £3,000 to be awarded to each of the winning clubs.

The other semi-final will be between Brigg Town, winners of The FA Vase in 1996, and Oadby Town, into the semi-finals for the first time in their history.

The final of The FA Vase will be played at West Ham United FC on Saturday, May 10, kick-off 3pm.