WARMINSTER Town wrote club history at the weekend when reaching the third round of the FA Vase after defeating Wessex League Premier Division side Portchester 3-1 at Weymouth Street.

Francois Allan bagged a goal either side of half-time and Jack Miluk completed the hosts’ scoring as Andy Crabtree’s magnificent 11 booked their spot in the competition’s third round against all odds.

Town have twice reached the Vase’s second round – in 1995 and 2000 – but prior to last Saturday had failed to advance any further.

The club’s road to the third round has been far from complimentary, either.

A first qualifying round success against Alresford Town proved the Vase’s first shock before East Cowes Athletic were downed 3-2 in the first round proper.

Crabtree was full of praise in the aftermath of his side’s weekend win, a game attended by 222 supporters.

He said: “It was a great day for the club. We went into the game as underdogs again but stuck to our game plan.

“I did a bit of research on Portchester. We worked out what we wanted to do in conditions that weren’t the best – that played into our hands.

“We didn’t allow Portchester to get their passing game going, and it paid dividends.

“I didn’t think we’d win our first game against Alresford. To beat them was a great achievement.

“The players have given me everything they’ve got, and that’s not just the 11 that have started, but all involved.

“This run is great for the club and players.”

Town’s win means they are now five games away from an an appearance at Wembley.

Crabtree added: “The money won’t be spent on wages, it will be spent on doing jobs around the club.

“There is an endless list of jobs that need doing.

“Our chairman (Pete Russell), for example, is the groundsman. He has spent hours at the ground treading the divots in.

“We’re lucky enough to have a groundsman from Shaftesbury School work on our pitch, and he did an awful lot of work in the summer.

“Our pitch has been outstanding until recent weeks where we played three games in seven days on it.”

The wet weekend weather denied Bradford Town the chance to join Warminster in the Vase third round after their scheduled trip to Wessex League side Baffins Milton Rovers was postponed.

The contest was re-arranged for Wednesday night.