Lymington trip the prize if Bassett can overcome Lydney

Tuesday 28th August 2018

Royal Wootton Bassett Town will face a trip to face Lymington Town in the Emirates FA Cup first qualifying round if they can overcome Lydney Town in their preliminary round replay.

After a 0-0 draw at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground on Saturday, Bassett travel to the Forest of Dean for their replay on Tuesday 4th September.

The winners will then make the journey to the New Forest four days later to square off against the Wessex League Premier Division Linnets.

Lymington's journey to the first qualifying round has seen them defeat two step six Combined Counties League sides in the form of Sandhurst Town (5-1 in a replay following an initial 1-1 draw) and Frimley Green (2-0).

Their next fixture in the competition will therefore be their first which does not pit them against lower level opponents.

Lymington are currently unbeaten this season, having won one and drawn two of their opening three league games this season.

This season also marks their best FA Cup run in their current guise. Since first entering the competition in the 2006-07 campaign, they had previously advanced no further than the preliminary round, something they achieved on five occasions. The club's predecessors Lymington advanced to the fourth qualifying round in 1951-52.

The Linnets have enjoyed more success in the FA Vase in recent years, reaching the third round in 2006-07 and the fourth round a season later. Last year they reached the first round, after recording away victories against Guildford City and Hamworthy United.

Lymington have been members of the Wessex League Premier Division since 2006-07 too, a year in which they lifted the League Cup. Regular mid-table finishers, their best league performance came last season as they finished eighth.

Should Bassett advance it will be another extremely tough test for Sam Collier's team. Bassett would be battling history too as their record against Wessex League opponents is not the best.

Bassett have been pitted against Wessex League opposition seven times in the FA Cup, advancing only twice (against Hamworthy in 2012-13 and Brockenhurst in 2014-15). Meanwhile, eight ties in the FA Vase have ended in Bassett being eliminated, the most recent of which occurred against Horndean last season.

Before worrying about that record though, Bassett need to first see off Lydney.

And your support in Gloucestershire will be much appreciated as they aim to make a first qualifying round appearance for the fourth time in the club's history.

Last modified on Tuesday 28th August 2018 at 18:16.