HIGHWORTH Town boss Dave Webb is hoping to use their fierce local rivals as a blueprint for success as they entertain Thame United in the first qualifying round of the FA Vase.

Included in Highworth’s squad will be Tom Cole, TJ Bohane and Rory Sproule, who were all part of Shrivenham’s march to the last 32 of the national cup competition before eventually going out to Newcastle-based Dunston Federation.

And Webb believes the trio’s experience could be crucial if they are to have a good run in both the cup and league.

He said: “The Vase is a massively important competition to us. The disappointment to go out at the first hurdle of the FA Cup was huge, and we don’t want to repeat that.

“It’s a cup which, with a little bit of luck along the way, we can go quite a way.

“If you look at a team like Shrivenham, they had a fantastic run in it last year and it propelled them to have a good run in the league as a result of it.

“These guys know what it’s all about. Talking to them when they came to the club, they said how great it was to go on those journeys, be underdogs, beat teams and progress.

“Their experience of it will be passed on to the rest of the players and we’re looking forward to it. Hopefully we can start a similar journey and see where it takes us.”

Dave Turner takes his Wootton Bassett side to Molten Spartan South Midlands League outfit Buckingham Athletic on Saturday in the first qualifying round of the FA Vase The Rylands Way club have faced a tricky opening to the campaign with the fixture list offering up just two league games so far this season but Turner insists that, following his team’s 2-1 win over Harrow Hill in the Floodlit Cup on Wednesday, they are “full of confidence” going into this weekend’s contest.

“The FA Vase is a big competition for us,second only to the FA Cup,” claims Turner. “The money and prestige on offer is massive at this level.”

With no new injury worries and a full squad to choose from, including new arrivals Lee Molten and Sean Bailey and the returning Shaun Terry, Turner believes that the Vase provides Bassett with the ideal way to kick start their season.

“We’ve only had two games and it’s already September - it’s time to get some momentum and after our good performance on Wednesday I’m full of confidence.

“We’ve got a coach going to Buckingham on Saturday so we’re doing it right, the Vase is a real chance to get some finances back into the coffers.”

In other games, Fairford Town travel to Lydney, while Malmesbury Victoria entertain Cheltenham Saracens.

  • In the Hellenic Premier Shrivenham travel to second placed Chalfont Wasps on Saturday seeking their first away win of the season.

In Division One Cirencester entertain Tytherington Rocks whilst Purton visit Hardwicke AFC seeking to become the first side to breech their opponents’ defence this season.

Cricklade Town make the trip to Oxford City Nomads.