Reds facing 7am start in bid for Vase victory

Fareham Town boss Pete Stiles insists his squad are relishing the chance to reach the FA Vase third round - but not the long journey to Helston that awaits them.

The Reds face a 454-mile round trip for the second round tie against the Cornwall-based Southern Western Premier League side on Saturday.

It will be the third furthest distance a Fareham team has ever travelled to fulfil a competitive fixture after the visit to face Blyth Spartans in the FA Amateur Cup in 1973/74 and the Fa Trophy trek to Scarborough in 1986/87.

The squad and management staff are setting off from Cams Alders at 7am in order to reach Helston in sufficient time.

‘Obviously no-one is ecstatic about the long trip but you’ve got to make the most of it,' said Stiles.

‘It’s an early start, 7am, but we don’t want to go all that way and get beat, that’s for sure.

‘You’ve just got to do it.

‘We’ve been to Bristol and that before, but this is three times further.

‘It’s a long way but you want to go down there and make sure you come back in the next round.

‘Hopefully we travel well, it would have been nice to have gone the night before, but where it’s such short notice you can’t plan things that well.'

Despite more than 225 miles between the two clubs, Stiles has still been able to get some information on Helston.

He has seen videos of their opponents while he's also called on his contacts.

Stiles is expecting a very difficult test against a team who have only lost once in 10 league matches this season.

But while Fareham have played twice since lockdown was lifted, Helston’s last game remains their Vase victory over St Blazey on October 31.

After a 2-2 draw, Helston trailed 3-1 in the shoot-out but scored their final three penalties while keeper Sam Borthwick saved Blazey’s last two efforts.

Stiles added: ‘I do know bits (about Helston).

‘I do know how I think they’ll play and I do know where their dangers and weaknesses are.

‘I’ve done my homework.

‘I’m under no illusion that they’re going to be decent because sides down there, especially that far down in Cornwall, sometimes you get players who can play a lot better standard but can’t be bothered to travel.

‘The standard tends to be quite high and we’ve got to be mindful of that.

‘I think we’re a good team and we’ve got to prove it.'

If Fareham win, they face another long trip to the west country the following Saturday to face Western League leaders Plymouth Parkway in round three.

Parkway have won 11 and drawn two of their 13 league games so far.

- LEWIS MASON