Manager Gary Harvey and his team moved a step closer to a goal that has eluded them at the final hurdle in both the last two seasons with a imperious performance.

Sudbury¹s 4-0 humbling of Bridgwater in the West Country team¹s fortress ­ they had won eight consecutive matches at home before the weekend ­ will have been noted with some trepidation by the other sides left in the competition.

Clearly they put down a marker ­ a statement of intent ­ in a contest that promised at the outset to be a cup classic, but turned into a rout.

Poor Trevor Senior was clearly disappointed with the performance of his team but put on a brave face in praising Sudbury for their professionalism.

"Conditions were very difficult and they made light of them," he admitted.

They were very focussed and clearly on a mission. They thoroughly deserved their win."

Andrew Clayton put his stamp on the match as early as the 11th minute after a fortuitous bounce left the goal at his mercy and seconds before half time, the Eastern Counties Premier outfit doubled their lead when David Head nodded home.

The visitors extended their advantage when Gary Bennett drilled in from 10 yards early in the second half, and if the match wasn¹t over then, another nail went in the home team¹s coffin when Bridgwater¹s Gary Rice was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Lee Owen, who had an outstanding game for Sudbury, rubbed salt in the wound, scoring in the last quarter.

Cup minnows Tipton Town ­ on the seventh rung of The FA Pyramid ­ were the team of the day after forcing a replay in the industrial North East against Northern Division 1 outfit Jarrow Roofing Boldon CA.

The only lower league team left in The FA Vase, the side is enjoying it¹s best ever run in the competition, which coincides with it¹s dominance of the West Midlands Premier League.

Despite the setback of losing first choice goalkeeper Danny Watson, Tipton dominated for lengthy periods and looked set for a win when Adrian Baddams converted a 79th minute penalty.

But the Roofers¹ leading scorer Craig Nelson, who had been a thorn in Tipton¹s side all afternoon, made up for an earlier glaring miss when he rammed in the equaliser to set up next Saturday¹s replay.

Wessex Division 1 challengers, AFC Newbury, seem to be hitting their straps at just the right time and took improved league form into the Cup clash at Soham Town Rangers.

The team made club history when they clinched a 1-0 win through a virtuoso goal from hero Lee Chudy who collected the ball on the half-way line and waltzed past three defenders before lashing home.

Newbury ensured their place in the last eight for the first time with a professional second-half performance ­ particularly at the back where Dominic Green and Sam Rae were outstanding.

Colne were one of the sides fancied to go through after a string of fine results in the competition, but fell foul of an inspired Didcot Town who absorbed early pressure and pushed the throttle late on to emerge with a 3-2 victory.

Bradley Ward, Andrew Parnott and Stuart Beavon netted for Didcot while Ian Simpson and Paul Walker replied for Colne.

Frome Town ­ second in the Western Premier ­ were another side who brought excellent league form into their cup-tie and clinically dispatched Isthmian Division 2 side, Brook House 3-0 with first half goals from Matt Peters (2) and Dean Griffiths.

And Bedlington Terriers of Northern Division 1 won by the same score-line at Enfield, finishing the game with ten men to Enfield¹s nine.

Early goals from Anthony Chapman and Steven Preen deflated Enfield who conceded a third late on when Preen lashed in Kevin Walton¹s knock-down.

Stourbridge were forced to hold on against battling Backwell United after Jim Conway and Andy Wright had put them two up soon after half-time. Ryan Hewitt pulled one back with a stinging snap shot, and despite being reduced to ten men when Ryan Long saw red, Backwell almost tipped the match into extra time through subsitute Tim Martin.

Bury Town reached the last eight for the second time in their history when And Eady headed home in the 117th minute of a frenetic clash with gutsy Lymington and New Milton.

Bury went in at the break at 2-2, Paul Stokes and Richard Skelly strikes sandwiched between a Mark Clothier poke in and a Kevin Reacord drive.

Despite losing two key players ­ James Evans and Tom Clements ­ Bury kept their shape in the later stages before Eady lifted the roof.