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FA Vase fourth-round weekend round-up as Whitstable Town, VCD Athletic and Erith & Belvedere successfully progress

Whitstable are just three rounds from a Wembley FA Vase final after their penalty shoot-out victory at Walsham Le Willows on Saturday.

Following a goalless first half in Suffolk, ex-Gillingham striker Ronald Sithole, 20, put Jamie Coyle’s Southern Counties East League Premier Division side in front, only for the hosts to level in the 87th minute.

Whitstable (yellow) battle against Walsham Le Willows on Saturday during a 1-1 FA Vase draw before they won on penalties. Picture: Mark Bullimore
Whitstable (yellow) battle against Walsham Le Willows on Saturday during a 1-1 FA Vase draw before they won on penalties. Picture: Mark Bullimore

But it was Whitstable who progressed to the last-16 of the competition - for only the second time in their history - as they won 3-2 on penalties.

They will play Fleet Town at home in the next round.

Whitstable celebrate going ahead through Ronald Sithole. Picture: Mark Bullimore
Whitstable celebrate going ahead through Ronald Sithole. Picture: Mark Bullimore
All smiles for Whitstable as they progress following a penalty shootout at Walsham Le Willows. Picture: Mark Bullimore
All smiles for Whitstable as they progress following a penalty shootout at Walsham Le Willows. Picture: Mark Bullimore

Promotion-chasing VCD Athletic also progressed courtesy of a 1-0 victory at home to Epsom & Ewell.

Defender Michael Fenn claimed the only goal midway through the first half.

The Vickers, who reached the fifth round in 2005/06 and 2006/07, losing 1-0 at Cammell Laird and 3-2 at home to Bideford respectively, will play whoever comes out on top in Hartpury University’s home clash against Fareham Town on Sunday.

Whitstable (yellow) on their way to the last 16 of the FA Vase on Saturday. Picture: Mark Bullimore
Whitstable (yellow) on their way to the last 16 of the FA Vase on Saturday. Picture: Mark Bullimore

Erith & Belvedere completed a hat-trick of Southern Counties East League Premier Division sides to reach the last-16 stage of the FA Vase as they beat hosts White Ensign on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Experienced forward Tommy Whitnell promptly equalised on 65 minutes for the Deres, just four minutes after they had fallen behind to Taylor Jacobi’s penalty, before Erith & Belvedere triumphed 4-2 on spot-kicks.

The Deres have only reached the fifth round once before, where they saw off Holbeach United 3-2 in 2014/15, before losing 2-0 at home to North Shields in the quarter-finals.

They will be at home against Daventry Town in the next round.

The ties for the fifth round are scheduled to be played on Saturday, February 1, with the winners earning £2,250 and losing sides collecting £725 in prize money.

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