Having beaten Yaxley in the FA Cup earlier this season, Goddy probably fancied their chances of completing a knockout double in Saturday’s FA Vase tie.

They might well have been kicking themselves for missing out, although manager Nev Nania was well aware the visitors were considerably stronger than in that defeat.

After a goalless draw at the weekend, Goddy were well beaten in the replay last night.

Having said that, he maintained his charges had the better opportunities on Saturday and should probably have nicked it.

“I suppose we had five or six good chances,” he said. “Their keeper had more work to do than ours, although they will probably say they had enough openings to have won. They did hit the bar, but Chris Hyem, James Hall and Tom Meechan had opportunities in the 90 minutes and we had perhaps the best two in extra time.

“First when Mike Hyem scooped the ball over the top of a gaping net from two yards out and then, in the last minute, when Meechan accelerated past the last defender and had a one-on-one chance smothered by the Yaxley keeper. I felt we were slightly the better team overall against a team who have hardly lost a United Counties League game and are joint top of their table.”

The two teams did it all again last night. Lying in wait for the winners is a home tie against Fakenham, who sit mid-table in the same division as Goddy and who they have already played twice, winning 4-0 away and losing 1-0 at home.

“The incentive is there,” said Nania. “I think the lads have enough in their locker to get past that hurdle if it is presented.”

Given a choice, though, would he prefer continued success in the Vase or a place in the top two?

“The Vase is important to the club for reasons of finance and prestige,” he said.

Nania was missing Jamie Blackwell last night (Tuesday), but despite that and the continued absence of Tom Moran, Tom Sparks, Joe Furness and Adam King he reckoned his squad was big enough and strong enough to cope.

“We have 20 players who are almost inter-changeable. You can see that because despite having a string of injury problems our form hasn’t been affected that much.”