Wembley dream beckons as Windsor & Eton host Fisher in FA Vase showdown

Nick Thumwood celebrates his goal in Saturday’s 5-2 league win over Holyport. Photo: Richard Milam
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A large and expectant crowd will pour through the turnstiles at Stag Meadow on Saturday to see if they can cheer Windsor & Eton to victory over Fisher in the fourth round of the FA Vase.

Should the Royalists build on their form in the competition so far – with wins already over Whitchurch United, Bearstead and Tunbridge Wells – they’ll reach the final 16 and take a step closer to playing under Wembley’s famous arch in the final.

They’ll lose a bit more ground on their league rivals, but that would be a price worth paying for manager Rob Webb and his players as they chase promotion and silverware on multiple fronts.

Saturday’s 5-2 league win over Holyport lifted Webb’s side to seventh in the Combined Counties Premier Division North table, two points outside of the play-offs but with games in hand over all the teams above them.

Should they win them all, or even most of those matches in hand, they’d move top of the table, however – for the time being at least – they’ll have to be content with just remaining in the promotion picture.

Looking ahead to the visit of Southern League East Premier Division Fisher on Saturday, Webb said: “Every game is a tough game and especially against these guys.

“We’ve done a bit of homework on them, and we know they’re going to be a very good footballing side. We’ve got a good pitch. They play on a 4G surface, but coming to our place will be no different.

“They’re a feared side in their league because of how technically gifted they are, but we’re a good side too. I’m happy with our team and how we play too, so it’s going to be a great contest, really well attended hopefully and it should be a brilliant.”

Fisher are currently eighth in their step 5 division and, like Windsor & Eton, a couple of points outside of the play-off places.

A win on Saturday would bring the dream of a final appearance at Wembley just that little bit closer. While Webb knows fans will already be dreaming, he says he won’t look that far and will just tick off each game as it comes around.

“It’s easy to get carried away but I don’t think like that,” he said. “I take each game at the time. Wembley would be phenomenal and the fans would love to see something like that happen.

“The belief and the dream. But for me, I take one game at a time, and it takes the pressure off myself and the team to not think so far ahead. If you can win the game in front of you, you’re going to do well. That’s how we take it.”