HIGHWORTH Town manager John Fisher was left in no doubt that reaching Wembley may not be all that an impossible dream after watching his side push 2013 finalists Tunbridge Wells all the way this afternoon.

The Worthians are set to renew hostilities with their Southern Counties East League opponents in a fourth round proper replay next weekend after drawing 1-1 at the Elms today, with the two sides unable to be separated after 120 minutes of play.

After initially looking overawed in front of a bumper crowd, Highworth grew into the occasion and looked the most likely to snatch a winner but Fisher’s men were forced to settle for a trip to Kent next Saturday.

“If they’ve got to Wembley, why can’t we get there?” said the Worthians boss.

“It just goes to show that it’s gettable. From what I’ve seen of Tunbridge Wells, I’ve got to be confident that we can go and win down there.

“To a man, I think my lads gave me everything they could and I thought we edged it. We had the far better chances.

“I could see in the changing room that they were getting nervous but once they got over that initial period, I thought we totally dominated – (Tunbridge Wells) are over the moon with a draw.”

The visitors came close to taking the lead early on as Dan Booth managed to round Highworth goalie Garry Stevens but the Wells striker slipped at the vital moment, allowing the recovering Sam Wadieh time to block his goal-bound effort.

The scores somehow remained level at the break after Dan Drewett struck the crossbar from a TJ Bohane cross before the men from Kent took the lead after Jonny Aitkenhead was penalised for sliding in on Booth in the box, allowing Brendon Cass to slam home from the spot.

But Highworth levelled things up as Brad Clarke charged down Wells keeper Steve Lawrence and was rewarded as the ball rebounded kindly for him to slide home into an empty net.

The hosts took the game to their visitors but had little luck, right up until Bohane was cynically dragged down by Wells’ Perry Spackman late in the second period of extra-time.

The referee initially pointed to the penalty spot but the chance to grab a winning goal was taken away as, after Spackman was sent off for his second yellow card, the official altered his decision to a free-kick on the edge of the area after consulting his linesman.

Fisher said: “TJ gets taken down the in the box. He’s clean through and the last man takes him out and it’s only because he’s been booked before that he sends him off.

“And he (Bohane) is two yards in the box. I asked TJ because I obviously can’t see and he said ‘it’s two yards inside’.

“Their penalty definitely wasn’t a penalty. Everyone can see that he (Aitkenhead) took the ball and even their dugout couldn’t believe that it was a penalty.

“I’m disappointed but I couldn’t have asked any more of the guys but there you go - we’ve got to go there next week.”