Monday 25th September 2017

Royal Wootton Bassett Town have been handed a home tie against Ampthill Town in the Buildbase FA Vase first round.

The tie will take place on Saturday 21st October at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground.

Bassett's place in the opening round of the Vase was sealed on Saturday with an emphatic 5-0 victory against Codicote, Ampthill's rivals in the Spartan South Midlands League Division One.

Not since 2010-11 have Bassett appeared in the first round proper of the competition. And they will be looking to go one better than in that season, when they suffered a 2-1 away defeat against Cadbury Heath.

Victory would ensure Bassett match their best ever run nine years ago, which ended in the second round.

Ampthill, despite playing a level below their hosts at step six, will be difficult opponents.

They have a great Vase pedigree. The Bedforshire outfit have made it to the third round or beyond on seven different occasions. That includes a three year stretch of reaching at least the last 32. In 2011-12 Ampthill made it to the fourth round before they went a stage further a season later. Their best performance came in 2013-14 when they made it through to the quarter finals, being eliminated 2-1 after defeat to Eastbourne United Association.

That run to the last eight coincided with a runners-up finish in the South Midlands League Premier Division.

However, they were relegated in 2014-15, following that up with consecutive 14th place finishes at step six.

So far this season the Amps have been in outstanding form.

In the Vase they have comfortably seen off two Hellenic League sides already, thrashing New College 10-0 away before triumphing 4-0 against Clanfield. In the league, Ampthill currently sit second with six wins from their opening seven fixtures.

Last modified on Monday 25th September 2017 at 20:52.