TheFA.com caught up with AFC Sudbury's striker Gary Bennett who is on course to be the top goal-scorer in The FA Vase for the second season running.

The competition's star striker Gary Bennett is hoping to break his semi-final jinx in this year.

Despite scoring in every previous round of the competition for the second successive season for AFC Sudbury, the postman has so far failed to deliver a goal in the semi-finals.

The 32-year-old centre-forward said: "Before the semi-finals last season, everybody kept saying how I had scored in every round and I ended up not getting a goal.

"I have been pleading with them not to bring it up again this year. I must have a jinx on me because I didn't score in the first-leg last Saturday.

"It would be great to get a goal that takes us through to the final, but as long as we get there I don't care who scores."

Bennett found the back of the net 11 times during AFC Sudbury's run in The FA Vase last season, which was ended at the semi-finals by Tiptree United.

They go into the second-leg of this season's semi-finals on Saturday with a 1-0 advantage over Jewson Eastern Counties League Premier rivals Maldon Town.

Bennett, who has scored 10 goals in this season's competition, said: "We were devastated to go out of the semi-finals last season. We felt we had a great chance of getting to the final but blew it.

"I think complacency crept in because we had already beaten Tiptree three times that year, but unfortunately we came unstuck.

"It's exactly the same situation this year. We are playing a team lower than us in our division and have already beaten them this season.

"We said before last Saturday's game that we wouldn't make the same mistake and under-estimate them because they have got some good players."

Bennett, whose goal tally for this season already stands at 42, scored both goals in their 2-0 win over Mossley to reach the semi-finals. He also bagged a brace in their 6-0 win over Hanwell Town in the Third Round Proper and a hat-trick in their 4-0 victory over Durham City in the following round.

Bennett said: "We have got two good wingers who create a lot of chances and a couple have fallen to me. Everybody has chipped in through the run.

"I just hope we get the right result on Saturday. After last year's disappointment, getting to the final means everything to us."

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

FA VASE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CARLSBERG
SEMI-FINALS
Winning clubs over two legs each receive £3,000 in prize money

Saturday, March 22
First Leg

Oadby Town v Brigg Town 0-2
Attendance 1,231

Maldon Town v AFC Sudbury 0-1
Attendance 1,163

Saturday, March 29
Second Leg - 3pm kick-off

Brigg Town v Oadby Town
AFC Sudbury v Maldon Town