LANGDON SO PROUD AS TON STRIKE IT LATE

BITTON broke the stubborn resistance of the lowest-ranked team in the FA Vase as they struck three late goals to sink Warminster Town.

Ian Jeffery’s first-half penalty had put Warminster ahead but Joe McLennan’s scorcher levelled matters and Josh Egan and substitute Harrison Kyte completed the turnaround.

Victory means Bitton are through to the last 16 for the third time in club history but only after being given a scare by their lower-league visitors.

The game would surely have been markedly different had Bitton’s Matt Groves not crashed a rising drive against the post from Egan’s cross inside the opening five minutes.

After that narrow escape, Warminster forged ahead. Groves lunged in on Jack Miluk in the box and a penalty was the result, with Jeffery slotting into the left corner.

McLennan tried to respond but his speculative, first-time effort drifted wide, while Egan thundered off target.

Soon after the restart, Warminster stopper Nathan Ball made a fine reflex save to keep out a header from Groves.

Jeffery nearly grabbed his second just after the hour but his curling free-kick was parried to safety by keeper Rob Brown and Bitton survived a goalmouth scramble moments later.

With 18 minutes remaining, the hosts drew level, McLennan cutting in from the right and sending a superb effort beyond Ball and into the far corner.

The home side finally went in front with six minutes left, Egan rifling low into the left corner after making a welltimed run in behind.

Jordan De Silva’s flick was pouched by Brown before Kyte, six minutes into stoppage time, raced clear to wrap up the win.

“It is a proud moment,” said Bitton boss Dan Langdon.

“To get into the fifth round is massive. When these opportunities come you have to embrace and enjoy them.

“As a team, we want to make our own history and rewrite the record books.”