BROCKENHURST manager Pat McManus has one main wish ahead of the FA Vase draw today (3.15pm) – avoid league rivals Hamworthy United!

Whilst the Badgers and Hamworthy are currently locked in a four-way race for the Wessex Premier league title, there is clearly admiration for Brock’s promotion rivals from McManus, who hopes that the league’s two remaining representatives will avoid each other in order to keep flying the flag for the Wessex League.

Of course, there is also the reason that Brockenhurst have already crossed paths with the Hammers three times this campaign, losing 1-0 each time.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, McManus stated: “We’re obviously happy to be here. I would like to avoid Hamworthy, just from a league perspective.

“We've played them three times, don’t particularly want to play them again, but I’d also like for both clubs to remain in the competition for as long as possible.

“With regards to who get, any side now is going to be a difficult proposition at this stage.

“Personally, I'd like a home tie because you've got the comforts of your own surroundings, your majority of your own support.

“And I think that could be important at this stage.”

857 fans packed into the Meadens Skoda Arena in order to see Brockenhurst secure their place in the fifth round at the expense of New Forest rivals New Milton, with the club actually earning more the bar takings than they did prize money for their victory.

McManus continued: “Based on what was going on in the clubhouse, we would have made more out of the clubhouse than we did from the FA!

“The clubhouse was packed, which is really good to see.

“The prize money itself is welcome, but it's not a huge amount. And to be fair at this stage of the Vase, it's not really about the prize money.

“It's about the kudos and being in it. It's a wonderful tournament, for Step five teams. To go as far in it as possible and to be there at this stage now is a good achievement, out of some 600 teams.

“There's ourselves and Hamworthy, still representing the Wessex Prem, which I think is testament to the league and testament to the squads of both teams really.”

The tournament now enters the national stage, meaning Brockenhurst and Hamworthy could be given gargantuan trips to the north of England to face sides such as North Shields and Wythenshawe Town. In a bid to avoid fixture pile-ups due to COVID postponements, the FA have done away with replays – with McManus in favour of the reform.

“I’m definitely in favour of things being settled on the day.

“Nobody wants to back somewhere on the Tuesday, especially at this stage travelling halfway around the country on a Tuesday night, because that opens up so many possibilities for potential failure.

“Getting it done on the day is the best prospect for ourselves.”

The sides remaining in the Vase will learn their next opponents at 3.15pm today, with the draw live on Talksport.