Vase trip awaits USP tie winners

US Portsmouth will bid to keep their Wembley dream alive in the west country if they can cause another FA Vase shock this coming weekend.

Glenn Turnbull’s men host Christchurch in the fourth round on Saturday aiming to beat Wessex Premier opposition for the fourth time in the tournament this season.

US, who play in the second tier of the Wessex, have already dumped out AFC Portchester, Bournemouth Poppies and Brockenhurst en route to reaching the last 32 for the first time in their history.

Should they beat Christchurch, they will be away to either Bridgwater Town or Tavistock in the fifth round on Saturday, April 24.

Tavistock will be favourites to progress, as they were lying second in the Western League Premier Division - 10 points adrift of Fareham’s Vase conquerors Plymouth Parkway with two games in hand - when the season was curtailed.

Bridgwater were 12th in the same division.

Tavistock’s pedigree is evident from the fact they took Gosport Borough to penalties in the FA Cup last September.

Borough, from two divisions higher in the non-league pyramid, were held 2-2 by the Lambs before winning on penalties.

The Devonians have also beaten Lymington – who won 11 of their 12 Wessex Premier games in 2020/21 – 1-0 in the New Forest in the Vase this season.

Tavistock were top of the Western League Premier in 2019/20 when the season was null and voided.

The USP v Chirstchurch tie will have a lunchtime kick off after the FA recommended that no football fixtures take place between 2:45pm and 4.15pm this coming Saturday due to the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral.

A minute’s silence should be observed before matches and black armbands worn.

No new time has yet been agreed for the US tie, but a noon or 12.30 kick off is expected. 5th rd Vase draw: Hebburn or Liversedge v Congleton Town or Malvern Town, Shildon or Warrington Rylands v North Ferriby or West Auckland Town, Stourport Swifts or Walsall Wood v Anstey Nomads or Wellingborough Town, Mulbarton or Hanworth Villa v Long Eaton or Westfields, Cobham v Leighton or Walton & Hersham, Sutton Common or Hadley v Fakenham Town or Binfield, Bridgwater or Tavistock v US Portsmouth or Christchurch, Plymouth Parkway or Clevedon Town v Lancing or Flackwell Heath.