Gornal Athletic reach FA Vase quarter-finals

Athletic are in the last eight for the first time and have been drawn away to County Durham side Spennymoor United, from Northern League Division One, on Saturday, March 2.

Lee Wherton's 12th-minute goal secured the historic 1-0 victory at Bodmin Town to put Gornal into the last eight.

Victory earned Gornal another £2,500 in prize money from the Football Association, swelling their winnings to £9,300 in the competition this season.

If they win the quarter-final, the Garden Walk side will bank a further £3,500. But there was a heavy price to pay with Gornal skipper Chris Waterhouse left with a gashed ear after allegedly being stamped on by Bodmin forward Adam Carter, while Michael Perks sustained a dislocated shoulder.

Bodmin boss Dave Gilbert was also sent off for his reaction to an offside decision on the half hour. Gornal manager Ian Rowe paid tribute to everyone connected to the club.

"I'm so proud of my players and my staff because it was hostile with a couple of nasty challenges and a lot of things went unpunished," said Rowe. "And I had some stuff directed at me which was a little bit unsavoury. Michael showed such character to play on for half an hour with a dislocated shoulder – as soon as the game finished, he collapsed on the ground."

For Rowe, the significance of the victory didn't sink in until yesterday when he sent all his players a congratulatory text saying: "The Gornal lions tamed the beast of Bodmin".

"I couldn't take it all in on Saturday but when I sat down with a glass of wine yesterday, I realised what we'd achieved and it's absolutely amazing for a club of our size," he added. "Everyone was brilliant."

Meanwhile, Walsall Wood's FA Vase fourth round tie against Hanworth Villa was postponed again on Saturday and they have now lost home advantage.

It is the third time the clash has been called off and the tie will now be played this Saturday at the home of their West London-based opponents.

If Walsall Wood get through, they will play Runcorn away in the fifth round with the winners at home to Guernsey in the quarter-finals.