Almondsbury UWE 2 Whitchurch Utd 3.

The FA Vase and Whitchurch have tended to not have “gone together” over recent seasons so a victory at Almondsbury in a game that could have gone either way – and incidentally played just a few miles from Hallen where they went out of the competition last season – was almost something of a new experience for the club.

The match burst into life from the outset as home keeper Matt Semple held on to a Josh Harfield cross and tipped over a Jamie Mansell free-kick as the visitors pressed strongly.

Two corners came to nothing before they were caught cold as a long clearance saw Jack Garner underhit a back pass and the free scoring Nick Rugman easily beat Brad Snelling to give the home side a third minute lead.

It lasted just four minutes as Adam Pearson thumped a header against the woodwork from a corner before Scott Hassell slotted home in a crowded goalmouth for the equaliser from another.

Simon McIlroy shot wide for Almondsbury and after Garner had been inches wide from distance Phillips’ pace took him clear but again the ball went past the outside of the post.

Ryan Lambert stopped Phillips in his tracks with a well timed challenge inside the area before Whitchurch took the lead midway through the half.

Harfield failed to make proper contact with a Josh Green cross at the far post but when a superb Jack McCarthy pass sent Green clear on the left again Harfield made no mistake from another pin point cross.

With the game flowing from end to end Phillips fired into the side netting and was then denied by Snelling while at the other end Semple held a Lambert effort at the second attempt and McCarthy was crowded out.

The second half with an early goal and again it was the home side and Rugman that made their mark after McIlroy forced his way through two challenges on the left and crossed for the tall striker to turn the ball past Snelling from close range.

The visitors came back with a Lambert free-kick striking the angle of post and bar and a Green cross well held by Semple.

McCarthy sent a free-kick into the side netting and Harfield was too high before the visitors took the lead as the clock approached the half hour mark.

Danny Phillips’ through ball found Mansell in the area, his turn took him over the defenders leg and Josh Green gave Semple no chance with the spot-kick.

The home side showed they were still in the game as Rugman forced Snelling into a fingertip save but two late substitutions by Whitchurch bolstered a defence in which Pearson had been outstanding all afternoon and ensured that the visitors maintained their single goal advantage and a place in the next round.

Whitchurch now face another away tie and Western League opposition with a trip to Chippenham Park who groundshare with Southern League Chippenham Town.

With a scheduled Southern League fixture on the same day United could be looking at a Friday evening or Sunday afternoon tie.