Hebburn Town boss can 'smell Wembley' as club draw Plymouth Parkway in FA Vase quarter-final

The Hornets secured their place in the quarter-final after a narrow win at Hallmark Security League club Longridge Town.

With just three minutes of extra-time remaining and the game goalless, a goalkeeping error allowed Hornets midfielder Robbie Spence to tap home from close-range and secure his side’s place in Hebburn Town history.

And after three away draws in a row in this season’s competition, the South Tynesiders were rewarded with a home tie against Plymouth Parkway when the draw was made today.

Parkway defeated fellow Northern League side West Auckland 2-1 on Saturday, but Bolam doesn’t mind who they face in the last eight as Wembley comes a step closer.

“I got interviewed immediately after the game on Saturday and I was asked if I’d prefer a home draw after three successive away ties,” he said.

“It honestly doesn’t bother me because we have been so good in away ties and we enjoy the travel.

“Wembley isn’t far away; we know that, and you feel like you can smell it now.

“If you get through the next round and into the last four then its within touching distance.

“We are really pleased to have brought some joy to the club by making a little bit of history.

“We were fantastic from minute one and how it took us so long to get the goal is beyond me.”

Hebburn were immediately installed as the new favourites to lift the Vase at Wembley after the much-tipped Stowmarket Town saw their run surprisingly ended by Wroxham.

Consett are now rated as second favourites after they beat Deal Town 2-0 on Saturday, and there is a genuine prospect of a Northern League side walking out at Wembley in a Vase Final for the 11th time in the last 12 years.

Bolam added: “How great would it be for the North East non-league scene if we were able to get two teams to Wembley in the Vase final?”