MILDENHALL Town manager Trevor Munns is hoping his side's away form will see them in good stead after yesterday's FA Vase fifth round draw.The Recway side and current Ridgeons League Premier Division leaders will make the long trek to Billingham Synthonia, near Middlesbrough, on February 10, while the other Ridgeons side still left in the competition, Ipswich Wanderers, entertain Hampshire side AFC Totton.

By Mike Bacon

MILDENHALL Town manager Trevor Munns is hoping his side's away form will see them in good stead after yesterday's FA Vase fifth round draw.

The Recway side and current Ridgeons League Premier Division leaders will make the long trek to Billingham Synthonia, near Middlesbrough, on February 10, while the other Ridgeons side still left in the competition, Ipswich Wanderers, entertain Hampshire side AFC Totton.

“Our away form has been excellent so far this season and we are happy with what we are doing,” Munns said.

“We have only lost one game away in the league and that was to Needham Market and I've spoken to some of the lads already, who are really up for a weekend together.

“We get excellent away support and have a good away record, and that is important, as Billingham are sure to have a big crowd behind them.”

Currently mid-table in Northern League One, Synthonia are the only club in England to be named after an agricultural fertiliser (Synthonia being a contraction of “synthetic ammonia”, a product manufactured by ICI, with whom the club originally had a close connection).

But Munns knows mid-table league positions mean little in the Vase. “We played Sherborne in the last round and they were a notch below us in the pyramid, but it wasn't easy - and never is.”

Wanderers face three big cup games at their Humber Doucy Lane ground within the next two months - starting tonight.

John Clarkson's side entertain Needham Market this evening in the quarter-final of the Ridgeons League Cup, and then face AFC Totton on February 10.

And on March 13 they are set to entertain Ipswich Town in the semi-final of the Club Colours Suffolk Premier Cup.

After their significant 2-1 win at Lowestoft Town in Saturday's Vase tie at Crown Meadow, Wanderers have been drawn against Totton, who are currently second in the Premier Division of the Wessex League.

“A home draw is all I wanted,” said Clarkson. “Whoever we meet for a place in the last eight we knew it would be tough.

“Totton play in a tough league and are having a very good season.”

Totton travelled to Bedfordshire to beat Potton United 1-0 in the fourth round last weekend and they have reached the fifth round twice before.

Clarkson, who will have a parade of his 'walking wounded' before naming a side tonight, went on: “We were the better side from beginning to end on Saturday and should have won inside 90 minutes.

“We had seven new players from the time we lost 4-1 to Lowestoft in the league and our preparation was spot on.”

Full draw: Causeway or Cogenhoe v Curzon Ashton, Slimbridge or Whitley Bay v Truro City or Newcastle BBP, Ipswich Wanderers v AFC Totton, VCD Athletic v Bideford, Whitehawk or Edgware v Quorn, Leamington v Retford, Billingham Synthonia v Mildenhall.

Ties to be played on Saturday, February 10.