Hebburn Town boss reacts to FA Vase fourth round draw

File picture of FA Vase Round Two between Hebburn Town FC (yellow) and Sunderland RCA, played at Hebburn Sports Ground.

The Hornets will travel to face the Ellesmere Port-based club on Saturday 11th January as they look to reach the last 16 of the competition for the first time in their history.

And they will have to avoid becoming the fourth North East club to be beaten by their opponents if they are to do so.

Newcastle Benfield, Ryhope CW and South Tyneside neighbours Jarrow FC have already seen their interest in this season’s Vase ended by Vauxhall Motors – and Bolam has already been looking for help from the Northern League trio as he looks to take the Hornets within three wins of a first ever visit to Wembley.

He told The Gazette: “I will speak to Dave Bell at Jarrow and hopefully speak to the lads at Ryhope CW and Newcastle Benfield.

“I will tap into the local lads and I will try and get down there and watch them myself because I like to make my own judgement on opposition too.

“It is a positive to be able to take advice from those that have come up against Vauxhall Motors and they are clearly a good side.

“It’s one of those where you come through this one and you start getting twitchy about being at Wembley so there is a big prize on offer for either side really.

“But for us, we have to keep our feet on the ground because the league is also important for us and we have to focus on that.

“The Vase is on the back-burner for now until we get Christmas out of the way.”

Elsewhere in the draw, two-time finalists West Auckland Town secured a dramatic Third Round win against Yorkshire Amateur at the Wanted Stadium on Saturday and their reward will be another home tie against Walsall Wood.

Stockton Town – beaten finalists in 2018 – will have to wait to find out their opponents in the last 32 as they face a home game against the winners of the replay between Malvern Town and Atherstone Town.

And Consett will also face a home game if they can come out on top in their replay against Wythenshawe Town this Saturday.

The winners of that game will entertain United Counties Football League side Lutterworth Town for a place in the last 16.

All fourth round ties will take place on the weekend of Saturday 11th January 2020 and the winners of those ties will claim £1,825 in prize money.