WISBECH Town’s reward for reaching the last 32 of the FA Vase is a home tie with Dunston UTS.
Steve Appleby’s side will entertain the Northern League Division One side, from Gateshead, on January 21, as they aim to keep their dream of reaching a Wembley final alive.
And after lengthy away trips to Racing Club Warwick and Witham Town in the last two rounds the Fenmen’s faithful will at least be thankful for a home draw.
Wisbech, the Ridgeons League’s remaining representative in the competition, booked their place in the fourth round with a 2-1 after-extra-time victory over Witham on Saturday.
The hard-fought win, courtesy of goals from Chris Bacon and Ollie Gale, ended the Essex outfit’s 18-game unbeaten run and helped the Fenmen reach their furthest stage of the competition since the 1996/97 season.
However, Appleby’s charges will have to be in fine form once again next year to continue their Vase run against in-form Dunston.
The Tyne & Wear team are flying high in their league - like Wisbech’s at Step 5 of the non-league pyramid - and currently sit third, just ahead of Vase holders Whitley Bay.
The Fed beat Parkgate FC 3-1 in Saturday’s third round to set up the clash with Appleby’s men and smashed 12 goals past Blackwell MW in round two - the most goals scored in one game by a team in this season’s competition so far.
The last Ridgeons side to play Dunston was Lowestoft Town - now playing in the Ryman Premier Division (Step 3) - who beat their northern opponents 2-1 at Crown Meadow in the fifth round in 2007/08.
Last season the Gateshead outfit, formed in 1975 under the name Whickham Sports and after several name changes eventually became Dunston UTS in 2009, went out in the sixth round to eventual winners Whitley Bay - who remain on course for an incredible fourth consecutive Vase triumph after thumping Bridlington Town 5-1 at the weekend.
The winners of January’s fourth round ties will book a place in the last 16 of the illustrious non-league competition while picking up �2,000 prize money as a result.
Appleby’s troops, fifth in the Ridgeons Premier Division, return to league action at Walsham-le-Willows on Saturday.
The FA Vase Fourth Round draw in full
Whitley Bay v South Park
VCD Athletic or Tunbridge Wells v St Ives Town
Willand Rovers v Staveley MW
Shortwood United v Enfield 1893
Newcastle Benfield v Hanworth Villa or Herne Bay
Bournemouth v Royston Town
Old Woodstock Town v Bethnal Green United
Newport Pagnell Town v Ashington
Holbrook Sports or Norton United v Peterborough Northern Star
Wisbech Town v Dunston UTS
Bitton AFC v West Auckland Town
Tividale or Brocton v Binfield
Gresley v Southend Manor or Three Bridges
Billingham Synthonia v Runcorn Town
Reading Town v Ilfracombe Town or Larkhall Athletic
Oadby Town or Tipton Town v Ampthill Town
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