Two tough league tests for March Town after FA Vase victory

March Town face two of their toughest games of the season this week after progressing to the Second Round of the FA Vase.

The Hares won 4-2 at lower league Coggeshall Town on Saturday and now March play at second-place St Neots Town on Tuesday evening, before they host Rugby Borough, who are fourth, next Saturday.

Assistant manager Simon Roberts said: “We have got two huge league games now. St Neots won’t be happy with what happened to them at our place (March won 3-1) so they’ll be out for revenge.

“And then we have another big game with Rugby Borough who have been flying. But that’s what it’s about. If you want to win things you’ve got to perform against those teams at the top of the league and grind out results.”

On Saturday, Ben Tait gave March a sixth-minute lead with his fifth goal of the season and Matty Foy also struck his fifth of the campaign right on half time.

The Seed Growers pulled one back on the hour but captain Craig Gillies put The Hares 3-1 up with his 11th of the season after 73 minutes. The home team then got another one but Foy’s second in the 90th minute settled March’s nerves.

Roberts added: “We were not at our best but we deserved the win. It wasn’t really a pitch for playing good football. Coggeshall dug in and got themselves back in the game and made things a little difficult for us but we held on.

“The amazing away support was brilliant… I’ve never seen anything like it. They were noisy from the start and cheered us on throughout. Even when we conceded a couple of goals they were still there, still behind us.

“More than 100 of them have travelled over two hours to come and watch us play so huge credit to all of them. With that great support, it would be wonderful if we could get a nice home tie in the next round.

“The supporters have been great so we should get 300 to 400 there, maybe even more. It’s a great competition for the football club and we have got to try our best to do well in it.”

Roberts also confirmed March are looking to add to their squad, saying: “We have put a couple of approaches in. One of them is looking positive and the other we are not sure about - we have had the chats and made the offers and now we are waiting to hear. We just want to add some strength and depth to the squad.”

March Town: Gill, Green, Brumby, Saunders, Emmington, Foy, Cotton (Cowie), Tait, Gillies, Burrows (Withers), Williams (Tsaguim). Subs (not used): White, Pepper. Star man: Craig Gillies.

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