YMCA ease past Bedfont Sports in FA Vase

With tenants Horsham’s FA Trophy tie taking precedence at Gorings Mead on Saturday afternoon, Peter Buckland’s side were forced to play their First Round fixture a day later.

But the unusual arrangements failed to affect proceedings. Two goals from Luke Gedling and Liam Hunter in as many first half minutes handed the hosts an early lead, and although the Eagles halved the deficit just before the break, substitute Martin Smith eased the pressure with a third for the home side midway through the second half.

YM manager Peter Buckland said: “I’m delighted to be in the next round and we’ll see where it takes us. My philosophy on the competition is simple really. If you look at the Sussex Senior Cup, you’re playing against Ryman Premier League teams and even Conference sides, and the FA Cup is even worse, so there is a shelf life with those.

“But this cup hasn’t. It is Step 5 all the way through. There are two or three top notch sides up in the north of England that deliberately never get promoted because their competition is the Vase and they see Wembley and the money, but outside of that, you are playing teams at your own level.

“Therefore, it is very realistic to dream of progressing a long way, and what a day out it could be if we do. That’s a bit premature at the moment because we’ve only just won in the first round, I know, but I definitely love this competition and that is why I was so animated on the touchline.”

Full report in this week’s paper.