VICTORIOUS Highworth Town manager John Fisher revealed that the team-talk that helped inspire his side’s historic FA Vase win over Blackfields and Langley was already prepared for him – by the opposition.

Highworth moved into the last 32 of the Vase this afternoon, surpassing their best-ever run in the national competition as they reached the fourth round proper with a 1-0 win in Hampshire.

And the Worthians chief says that he simply relayed the comments of a Blackfields representative to his players before they took to the field at Gang Warily and moved into the national stage of the competition at the expense of the team that knocked them out of the FA Cup back in August.

“They sent someone to watch us last Saturday and I heard that their comment on us was ‘if you turn up and we don’t, you’ll have half a chance and if we turn up, you’ll have no chance’,” said Fisher.

“There was my team-talk. I said ‘boys, are we going to accept that?’. From one-to-eleven, and all the subs as well, they all worked their socks off.

“They (Blackfields) were a decent side and they had a free-kick just at the end, which our keeper (Gary Stevens) kept out with a fantastic save – if that had gone in, I think it would have been a tall order because my boys would have been distraught.

“Their manager said that we were the better side on the day and deserved to win it.

“Getting in to the last 32 is a fantastic achievement and I’m very proud to be the manager today.”

When the hosts’ Franklyn Clarke tripped Callum Parsons in the box midway through the second half, star striker TJ Bohane had the chance to fire Highworth ahead from the penalty spot, but his strike was kept out by goalie Scott O’Rourke.

But Bohane wasn’t to be denied and blasted home a spectacular winner from a tight angle, his 25th goal in 24 appearances this season.

Fisher added: “It was a poor penalty from TJ – he usually buries them.

“But he then goes and scores an absolute wonder strike. Ryan King played him through but he was out wide on his left foot. But TJ still managed to smack one in and their goalie said that he didn’t even see it before it went past him.”

After securing £1,500 in prize money, the Vase dream rolls on for Highworth, who are now five games away from Wembley and looking forward to Monday’s fourth-round draw.

“I just hope we don’t get Ascot (United) or Flackwell (Heath). We could get Melksham too but it would be nice not to play one of those sides,” said the Elms boss.