AFC Bridgnorth looking to make FA Vase history this weekend

AFC Bridgnorth are on the brink of the third round of the FA Vase for the first time since their inception in 2013, writes Jacob Jones.

Bridgnorth will host Desborough Town on Saturday (3pm), with a big attendance expected at Crown Meadow.

Opponents Desborough play a step above Bridgnorth in the United Counties League Premier Division, but AFC boss Jack Griffiths is hopeful his team can use the experience from their win over Moulton in the previous round to their advantage.

“They’ll be a tough team,” said Griffiths. “They’re above us as well in leagues, but then again, we went to Moulton in the last round of the cup, who are in the same league as them - they were fourth in their league and we beat them 2-0.”

Griffiths’ side go into Saturday’s fixture on the back of an impressive 2-1 victory over table-topping Sandbach United in North West Counties League Division One South.

The win puts Bridgnorth four points behind Sandbach, with two games in hand over the league leaders.

“It was a massive three points if I'm quite honest with you,” said the boss. “We knew the job we needed to do because if we did lose on Saturday, it'd be 10 points behind them with two games in hand, but I mentioned that to the lads and I think the game plan worked really well for us.”

Despite the club’s league aspirations, the manager insists the FA Vase is not a distraction and Bridgnorth will be looking to make history on Saturday.

“We're taking it seriously,” Griffiths added. “We want to make history, and that's why I came to the club.

“It’s not a distraction for us being in the Vase. We want to be in every cup and we want to be where we are in the league, fighting for every position, but we look certainly looking forward to Saturday.”