They were losing finalists in 2003, going down 2-1 to Brigg Town before nearly 7,000 fans at Upton Park, and were semi-finalists the year before that.

After AFC Wimbledon’s first Vase campaign ended in the Fourth Round at home to Colne, Sudbury were installed as the bookies’ favourites for ultimate Vase success. But two Wessex League sides, Winchester City and Gosport Borough, are very much in the frame too.

Ambitious Winchester were quarter-finalists last season, going out to the only goal at Oadby, and are currently second in the table behind Wimborne but with three games in hand. They’ve notched an impressive 109 league goals. Gosport, a short ferry ride from Portsmouth, are one place behind Winchester in the race to the Dr Martens League but they haven’t been in the Vase quarters for 26 years.

All three fancied sides - AFC Sudbury, Winchester and Gosport - face away ties tomorrow. Sudbury go to Congleton Town of the North West Counties League First Division, Winchester are at Eastern Counties League Wroxham and Gosport travel to the relatively unknown quantity of Studley of the Midland Alliance.

In other ties tomorrow the loss of inspirational skipper Phil Turner, out for several weeks with a knee injury, could affect Kent League Cray Wanderers’ chances of progressing at Bristol-Based Keynsham Town and Bideford manager Sean Joyce will be asking his former player Paul Hutchings for some pointers before their tie at Chertsey Town. Hutchings’ Torrington crashed 5-1 to the Surrey club in the last round.

The Fifth Round in full: Congleton Town v AFC Sudbury, Studley v Gosport Borough, Colne v Bitton, Andover v Leighton Town, Chertsey Town v Bideford, Wroxham v Winchester City, Eastwood Town v Stone Dominoes, Keynsham Town v Cray Wanderers.