BOSS Ollie Cherrett challenged Christchurch to prove they deserved their FA Cup reprieve after making the cut by a single league point.

Clubs at Priory’s level must finish in the top four to guarantee their place in the world’s oldest cup competition for the following season.

Finishing sixth in Sydenhams Wessex League Division One meant Cherrett’s men had to rely on the lottery of drop-outs, ineligible teams and points-per-game records of clubs at the same level across the country.

With 22 teams above them ruled ineligible, including Wessex One champions Portland, Christchurch were accepted as one of 736 entrants with the joint-third lowest points ratio of clubs at the 10th level of English football.

Priory’s 56 points from 34 games was enough but St Helens Town and Holker Old Boys of the North West Counties League Division One were omitted with 55 from the same number of matches.

Cherrett told the Daily Echo: “We knew we needed to finish in the top four to be guaranteed a place and that it would be down to the FA’s discretion when we didn’t.

“It was always going to be touch and go but we probably didn’t realise just how close it would be.

“From our point of view, we are overjoyed to be in the biggest and best cup competition in the world and now, we want to make the most of it.

“We weren’t aware of it but it just goes to show you should never see any match as a dead rubber. It’s crazy to think if we hadn’t won the last game of the season, we would have missed out.

“Okay, it is the early stages but as a player or a manager, you just want to be a part of it. I have been lucky enough to create some great memories in this competition and hopefully, we can make some more now I am in the dugout.”

Asked whether he would use the close shave as a motivational tool ahead of their extra-preliminary round tie at Wessex Premier Moneyfields on Saturday, August 6, Cherrett replied: “At our level, if you cannot motivate yourself to play in the FA Cup then you have to take a look at yourself.

“Having taken advantage of the misfortune of other teams, it is down to the players to prove they deserve to be in it.

“We will go there with no pressure because Moneyfields will be favourites but we all know underdogs can do very well.

“Fingers crossed, we can become one of them.”

FA Cup draw

Extra-preliminary round: (selected) Bashley v Horndean, Lymington v Hamworthy United, Brockenhurst v Laverstock & Ford, Hengrove Athletic v Verwood Town, Moneyfields v Christchurch, Sholing v Bournemouth Poppies. Ties to be played the weekend of Saturday, August 6.

Preliminary round: (selected) Bashley or Horndean v Sholing or Bournemouth Poppies, Whitchurch United or Cribbs v Moneyfields or Christchurch, Wimborne Town v Bridport or Alresford Town, Hengrove Athletic or Verwood Town v Bradford Town or Fareham Town, Lymington Town or Hamworthy United v Brockenhurst or Laverstock & Ford. Ties to be played the weekend of Saturday, August 20.

FA Trophy draw

Preliminary round: (selected) Wimborne Town v AFC Totton. Saturday, October 8.

First qualifying round: (selected) Paulton or Tiverton v Wimborne or Totton. Saturday, October 29. 

FA Vase draw

First qualifying round: (selected) Brockenhurst v Ringwood Town, New Milton Town v Horndean, Oldland Abbotonians v Lymington Town, Hamworthy United v Amesbury Town, Poppies v Verwood Town, Christchurch v Swanage Town & Herston. Ties to be played weekend of Saturday, September 10.

Second qualifying round: (selected) Bashley v Highworth Town, Whitchurch or Laverstock & Ford v Hamworthy United or Amesbury, Christchurch or Swanage v Romsey or Warminster, Poppies or Verwood v Brockenhurst or Ringwood, New Milton or Horndean v Oldland or Lymington. Ties to be played weekend of Saturday, September 24. 

FA Youth Cup

Preliminary round: (selected) Salisbury v Wimborne Town, Tadley Calleva v Hamworthy United, Christchurch v Sholing. Ties to be played week commencing Monday, September 5.

First qualifying round: Cove v Poole Town, Salisbury or Wimborne Town v Weymouth, Christchurch or Sholing v Ringwood Town, Tadley Calleva or Hamworthy United v AFC Totton. Ties to be played week commencing Monday, September 19.