The FA Vase in partnership with Carlsberg
First Round Proper
Saturday 29 October 2005
Winning clubs receive £700

Bishop's Cleeve's rollicking season continued on Saturday when they forged a passage through to the Second Round of The FA Vase in Partnership with Carlsberg at the expense of another Hellenic Premier outfit, Shortwood United.

The Cheltenham based club has had a fairytale start to the season with dynamic runs in The FA Cup, FA Vase and Hellenic Premier and club secretary Phil Tunstain isn't betting against them enjoying their most successful season since the club was formed in 1896.

"Put it this way," he chuckled. "You're probably better off putting your money on us at the moment than you are going three miles up the road and parting with your cash at Cheltenham racecourse."

Tunstain isn't bragging. If The FA Cup run is anything to go by, Bishop's Cleeve will be one of the teams to beat in The FA Vase this term.

They only lost by a solitary goal to Eastbourne Borough of the Conference South - a side four rungs above them on the non-league pyramid - last Saturday in Fourth Round Qualifying .

"It was a close run thing," sighed Tunstain. "They had that little bit extra about them and the tie went their way."

It was only Bishop's second shot at The FA Cup and in the previous season they reached the Third Qualifying Round.

"Our facilities have never been of a sufficient standard to allow us to push up the leagues or to enter the big Cup competitions," explained Tunstain.

"Our original ground was owned by the Church and they wanted it back in the 1990s. We were on the road for a while after that, sharing pitches with other teams."

But more recently the club, which runs sides from under-8s to under-16s, a youth team and five adults sides including a women's team, received funding from the Football Foundation.

"It meant we could take up a long lease on our current ground at Kayte Lane, install floodlights and develop stand and clubhouse facilities. We have seating for 50 right now but intend to build this up to 250 as soon as possible."

In the league, Bishop's Cleeve have harvested 24 points from nine games and lie fourth - within touching distance of North Leigh, Vase holders Didcot Town and Carterton.

"Cup runs have affected our schedule and we now have five games in hand on the league leaders," said Tunstain. "They could prove a headache for us and we don't want a fixture build-up if we can help it. It's no secret around here that the club's priority is to gain promotion to the Southern League."

But the manner in which they hammered poor Shortwood United suggests fixture clutter may be an occupational hazard for some time to come.

Kevin Slack, Simon Goodwin and Billy Davis got on the scoresheet as the side cruised into the Second Round.

Bideford are another side who have made a distinct impression early in the season.

Outstanding form in the Western Premier means they lie second and a point behind Frome Town with three games in hand and they eased through to the FA Vase Second Round on Saturday with something to spare.

A volley from Lee Groves and a Danny Harris header were enough to make the return trip from Poole Town a cheerful one, though the 2-1 scoreline didn¹t reflect their dominance.

"Poole were no easy touch," admitted Bideford's Kevin Tyrrell. "We had to work hard. But once they lost a player for a second bookable offence it was one-way traffic. We could have had a couple more, easy."

Hillingdon Borough's exploits last season, where they scored 17 goals in progressing to the Third Round, looks like being matched this season.

After scoring four in the previous round against Littlehampton, they managed five on Saturday at Kent Premier outfit Erith & Belvedere.

"We really played well," said club official Gary Grant. "Recently we've been winning games without playing particularly well. On Saturday we clicked."

Grant pointed to Danny Tilbury as being the biggest single factor in the side's domination.

"He came to us on loan last season from Wealdstone and decided to stay with us this year. He was everywhere on Saturday. If I tell you he had a shot from 45 yards that hit the bar you should get an inkling of what I'm on about!"

Tilbury scored twice, Dave Lawrence twice and Blaise O'Brien also got on the scoresheet in the 5-1 win.

"We were dubbed one-dimensional last season, with O'Brien our only outlet," said Grant. "This year, looking at the side, it looks like we've got players who can score from anywhere on the pitch."

Grant is now hoping for a home draw against a side from a different league. "A home game would be good," he said. "I can't remember when we were last drawn at home in The Vase."

Other stand-out results from the first round included the demise of Oxford City 3-1 to Welwyn Garden City, Congenhoe United's exit at the hands of AFC Hornchurch and Croydon¹s 4-2 demise at the hands of Arundel.

Rocester continued their sad downward spiral with a 2-0 home reverse against Carlton Town, but other teams including Egham, Tilbury and Dorking all made progress.

Winning sides are through to the Second Round Proper to be played on Saturday 19 November.

The FA Vase is sponsored by Carlsberg for the ninth consecutive season and forms an integral part of their support of football in this country.

As The FA's partner in men's football, Carlsberg also sponsor The FA Trophy and The FA Sunday Cup, highlighting their commitment to non-league and grassroots football.