WARMINSTER Town manager Andy Crabtree hopes his side have got the monkey off their back at home after progressing to the first round proper of the FA Vase following a 2-1 victory over Alresford Town at the weekend, writes JONATHAN LEIGHFIELD.

Charlie Walton’s double secured Toolstation League Division One side Warminster’s safe passage and they are guaranteed £275 from the FA prize pot fund in the next round should they lose or £825 for a victory.

The captain’s first-half volley put Crabtree’s side 1-0 up at the break before Walton doubled his own and his team’s tally after half-time.

Alresford – who play a tier higher – pulled one back midway through the second period before twice hitting the post in the closing stages, but Warminster held on and Crabtree felt his side were worthy winners in the end.

He said: “We were playing a team that was unbeaten and in a league higher.

“If you were a betting man, you would have put some money on Arlesford but we went out there with a good attitude and I think we caught them on the hop.

“I think a few of their payers rolled up, took a look at the pitch and thought: ‘This looks nice, this will be a doddle. It isn’t always like that, as we proved.

“I don’t think they expected us to be as well-organised as we were, and our pace did cause them a lot of problems.

“We were forced to soak up a lot of pressure and they did create quite a few chances, as did we.

“We were forced to defend well late on, as you’d expect in most games, and we managed to see it out.”

Warminster claimed victory at home for the first time this season thanks to their Vase triumph, and manager Crabtree is hoping he will now see a return to the peerless form that his side produced at Weymouth Street last season.

Crabtree said: “We got the monkey off our back in terms of winning at home.

“It was a fortress last season, but this season it has been like a burden to us. We’ve got to make Weymouth Street a fortress again.”

Elsewhere, fellow Toolstation League Division One sides Corsham Town and Devizes Town saw their Vase hopes ended in a pair of 3-1 defeats at home.

Corsham were beaten by Romsey Town and Devizes fell to Newport (IoW).

Toolstation Premier Division duo Westbury United and Bradford Town did reach the first round proper.

Dan Kovacs and Joe Kirkpatrick were on target as Westbury beat Alton 2-1 on the road, while Neikell Plummer got the only goal as Bradford earned a 1-0 win at home to Hamble Club.

Hellenic League side Malmesbury Victoria progressed in the Vase after beating Camberley Town 2-1 at home thanks to goals from Josh Hughes and Sam Parker.

However, Royal Wootton Bassett Town fell to a 1-0 defeat at Tadley Calleva.