Bracknell Town FC: Robins chiefs set their sights on more FA Vase glory

And they revealed the exciting prospect of getting to a Wembley final went along way towards them moving to Larges Lane this season.

The Robins reached the last 64 after thrashing Cricklewood Wanderers 8-0 at home on Saturday and will be away to Southern Counties East League club Lordswood – a trip of around 72 miles to Chatham – in the third round on December 2.

Joint managers Jeff Lamb and Paul McGrotty, along with coach Derek Sweetman, guided their previous club, Ascot United, to the quarter-finals in 2013 and again two years later.

They were then knocked-out, but now they are hoping to take Town even further along the road to Wembley.

Lamb, who replaced Mark Tallentire as manager in September, stated: “The Vase is a competition we hold in high regard, so we are certainly looking for a good run with Bracknell.

“One of the reasons why we (Lamb, McGrotty and Sweetman) wanted to get involved again was the Vase, as it’s a good opportunity for clubs at our level to get to Wembley. So our tie on December 2 is going to be massive and we are already looking to it.”

The Robins have certainly made an impression in the competition so far, blasting Buckingham Athletic 6-2 in the first round and Cricklewood 8-0 last Saturday.

Both opponents came from lower leagues, so Lordswood are likely to offer Town a much sterner test.

That said, Town were given some early scares by Wembley-based Cricklewood from the Middlesex League, with the visitors twice hitting the post and having another effort cleared off the line in the opening 25 minutes.

Jamie McClurg celebrates a goal in the 8-0 demolition of Cricklewood. Picture: Neil Graham.

“They were excellent in the first half,” admitted Lamb. “They came at us straight away and gave us something to think about. Their shape was causing us problems, so all credit to them for trying.

“To be honest, it (the scoreline) was a bit harsh on them.”

While questions could be asked of the Bracknell defence, the hosts were always a threat going forward and the team that had won their previous two Hellenic League games 7-0 could easily have reached double figures.

The Robins, however, have lost the services of Liam Ferdinand who has switched to rivals Thatcham.

He joined the club this season as the replacement for TJ Bohane, but the latter recently returned to Larges Lane from Swindon Supermarine to link up again with Adam Cornell, the pair having scored more than 90 goals between them last term.

Ferdinand, who netted 41 goals for Binfield in 2016-17, has been left on the sub’s bench in recent games.

Lamb said he was “disappointed” to see him leave, but added: “I understand why he’s done it. We have four or five forwards who are firing now and when Joe Grant is back from holiday we are strong going forward.”

‘It’s a good opportunity to get to Wembley’ Forward Jon Bennett, who has been on dual registration with Combined Counties League side Godalming in recent weeks, was back on the Robins bench on Saturday and, after replacing Cornell, scored Town’s seventh goal.

In addition to Ferdinand, defender Rob Gerrard is expected to join Highmoor Ibis and utility player Phil John has been linked with Highworth, although he played. and scored for Wright & Unity Sports when they defeated Taplow 3-1 in the Thames Valley Premier League last Saturday.

Another to make his exit from Larges Lane is coach Geoff Warner, who enjoyed a lot of success when working with Mark Tallentire last season.

“We enjoyed our time with him and we wish him all the best for the future,” said Lamb.

It is understood that Tallentire has turned down the vacant manager’s job at Flackwell Heath.

Midfielder Kensley Maloney was also on Thatcham’s wish-list, but he has suffered a knee injury and is likely to be sidelined for several weeks.

Bracknell are home to Division 1 West side Cheltenham Saracens in the second round of the Bluefin Sports Hellenic League Cup this Saturday (3pm).