North rivals to face Vase showdown

THE Northern League is guaranteed to have one club in the FA Vase quarter-final after Hebburn Town and West Auckland Town were paired together in the draw for the fifth round.

The draw for the last 16 was held at Wembley Stadium yesterday and, despite the competition being opened up nationally for the first time this season, the Division One sides were pulled out of the velvet bag alongside each other.

The clubs have already met in the league this season, with a late Graeme Armstrong goal giving Hebburn a 2-1 win at West’s Wanted Stadium in September.

The sides are due to face each other in the league just two weeks after their Vase tie, which will take place at Hebburn’s Energy Check Sports Ground on the weekend of February 2-3.

A place in the last eight of the competition will be on offer for the winners, along with prize money of £2,250.

Hornets manager Scott Oliver admitted that facing a Northern League rival wasn’t ideal but hailed the tie as “another big day” for the South Tyneside club.

He said: “Ideally, we wouldn’t want to play a team in our league, but that is what we have both been handed.

“We aren’t too far apart in the table at the moment and there isn’t much between the two sides.

“We went there and scored in the last minute in the league to sneak a win, but they are a highquality opposition.

“There will be another big crowd, the place will be buzzing, and the bar will be packed.

“We are already looking forward to it.

“It will be another big day for our club and for the North East non-league scene.”

West Auckland manager Gary Forrest reached the semi-final during his time as Shildon manager.

He said: “We have targeted the Vase this year, but we have a lot of players missing.

“It’s great for Hebburn and it’s great for us – the winners will have a great chance of getting to Wembley.”

Following the draw, West Auckland were made 3/1 favourites to lift the Vase, with Hebburn Town rated as second favourites at 7/2 with Betway.