BROMSGROVE Sporting cannot afford to dwell on this week's success over AFC Wulfrunians as they head for Berkshire on Saturday in search of more FA Vase glory.

The Rouslers face Hellenic League leaders Thatcham Town with a place in this season's quarter-finals awaiting the winners.

Sporting boss Paul Smith has left nothing to chance and has already had Thatcham watched twice, although his own proposed trip to watch them face Highworth last Wednesday was scuppered owing to a waterlogged pitch.

Smith is under no illusions of the task ahead as Thatcham are currently on a remarkable run of form having won their last 19 league games.

But having reached last season's semi-finals, Sporting's progress this time around has gone relatively unnoticed.

Smith explained: "With so many important Midland League games taking place at the moment, it's as though the FA Vase has slipped under the radar.

"Last season we really went to town promoting the FA Vase and it built into something of a frenzy.

"This season there has been no let up with so many important fixtures coming one after another. It's got to the point where I don't even want the players thinking about the FA Vase until 10.30pm on Tuesday night after we've played Coventry Sphinx.

"I wouldn't have it any other way. You want every game to be a big game, rather than some meaningless middle of the table affair.

"People say to me, that it must be hard at the moment, but it's where we want to be and as a club we want to keep pushing on".

Once again, Sporting won't lack for support with an expected 200 to 300 followers expected to make the trip to Thatcham.

Smith added: "We will go to Thatcham full of confidence.

"This time last week, we were devastated after losing to Haughmond. It was important that we got back on the horse again at Wulfrunians and the way we reacted was excellent.

"We trained twice in the week and got the players back on fire again.

"It helped that we scored two early goals through Richard Gregory and Sean Brain, but in truth we should have got more. We knocked on the door after that and went close on a number of occasions, Jason Cowley in particular was unlucky especially with a brilliant second half lob.

"Wulfs didn't have a single shot on target throughout the game, which I find a remarkable stat. We completely snuffed them out".

Smith will have to rotate the squad for Thatcham with recent signings Drew Canavan and Liam Holt both cup-tied.

Sporting have also seen Ahmed Ali's return delayed following a legal wrangle, but Smith is confident he will be back on board next week.