March Town handed home game in FA Vase Fourth Round, with Daventry Town the opposition

March Town will expect a bumper crowd after today’s draw saw them handed another home draw in the Fourth Round of the FA Vase.

The Hares find themselves in the last 32 of the national competition having beaten Essex Senior League side Takeley on Saturday.

Their reward is a home tie with fellow United Counties League Premier South outfit Daventry Town - the match will be played on Saturday, January 11.

The winning team picks up £1,875 and losing teams get £600.

The ‘Purple Army’ are currently fourth in the table, one point ahead of Ash Taylor’s March side. Dan Cotton was on target when the two sides shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw in Northamptonshire back in September.

Daventry won 11-10 on penalties at Newark Town in Saturday’s Third Round, following a 1-1 draw. They beat Staveley Miners Welfare 1-0 at home in the Second Round, won 2-1 at Highgate United in the First Round and 7-0 at home to Rushden & Higham United in the Second Qualifying Round.

Their danger man is Luke Knight, with 11 goals so far this season.

After the win on Saturday, which saw 303 brave souls face the awful weather, chairman Lee Brownlow said: “Despite the weather, the town really came out in force for us today and it was absolutely fantastic.

“The lads put on a good show, they worked hard, they wanted it more and in a game of fine margins, they won. I am delighted.

“It is the furthest the club has ever been in this competition. We are in the last 32 of a national competition and we could be anywhere in the country in the next round, although hopefully, we will be at home.”

March Mayor Gary Christy was visiting the club for the first time and he said: “It was an absolutely brilliant day and March Town’s success has created some history for the town. Let’s hope we can go all the way to Wembley now - if we do I will pay for the coach!

“I would recommend anyone to come down here and watch one of March’s games as it is absolutely spot on. It’s an excellent club with a brilliant chairman - come and join them.”

Manager Ash Taylor said: “It was a day to be proud of and a day where we made history. It’s the furthest this club has ever been in a national competition.”

When asked about the Fourth Round, Taylor added: “As long as the players walk off the pitch knowing they have given everything, then we will be proud as a group. But of course, we want to keep going. We have a little picture of a mountain we are trying to climb.

“It would be great to get a home tie as I believe if the conditions were different we would have got a lot more people here on Saturday, but massive credit to everyone who did come out, with wind and rain blowing in their faces.

“The next game is even bigger and we want to keep improving our home gates. When you get a big crowd you want to send them home happy and making those good feelings is what football is about.”

Assistant manager Simon Roberts added: “The fans never stopped singing and cheering and the win is thanks to them.”