CLITHEROE will play either Whitley Bay or Brigg Town in the quarter finals of the FA Vase.

It will be their first home tie in the competition for four rounds and manager Lee Sculpher was almost disappointed!

The Blues have been successful for the last three rounds away from home.

"I am thinking of asking for it to be switched," joked the Clitheroe boss.

The tie, to be played on March 2, throws up the chance of the Blues meeting the side that beat them in the 1996 final at Wembley - Brigg.

"I am sure if it is Brigg the people of Clitheroe will want us to get revenge for the final in 1996," said Sculpher, who wasn't part of the 1996 side because he moved to UniBond side Atherton early that season.

The Blues beat Ryman League second division high fliers Arlesey Town in the last 16 on Saturday. The hosts had gone into the game talking of final glory and dismissing the Clitheroe challenge.

But Sculpher's likely lads silenced the home support.

It continues the Blues' tremendous record in the competition where they reached the final in 1996, the quarter-finals two years later and the semi-final last season.

"They'd been talking all week as though they were going to win the competition and didn't mention us at all," said a delighted Sculpher. "They seemed to believe it was going to be a piece of cake. But we just got on with the job and produced a great team display.

"Neil Reynolds won the man of the match award but right the way through the side there were some great performances."

In previous rounds of the competition Clitheroe's progress has come away from Shawbridge. Nelson were beaten after a replay away from home, a journey to Cogenhoe ended with a splendid 5-1 victory and a trip to Abingdon ended with an emphatic 3-0 win.

His side got off to a flying start in Bedfordshire when the home side allowed Neil Spencer to roam unmarked from Mark Stewart's long throw.

Spencer latched on to the ball in acres of space and fired home.

Arlesey battled back and, for a spell, put the Clitheroe goal under pressure but thanks to good defending, and a slice of luck, Sculpher's men held firm.

Stuart Todhunter headed off the line at one stage and, when the ball was returned into the area, Jason Jones - who was celebrating his 21st birthday - went to head clear but misdirected the ball and it struck a post.

"I really thought it was in," admitted Sculpher. "But that seemed to be a turning point in the game. They rarely troubled us after that."

On 34 minutes Clitheroe made it 2-0. Lee Cryer played a through ball to midfielder Carl Greenwood and he produced a cool finish. Despite having to play into a strong wind in the second half, Sculpher's men were rarely threatened and, midway through the half, Reynolds put the result beyond doubt. The midfield man lashed home a free-kick from all of 30 yards to make it 3-0.

The home side, their hopes now in ruins, poured forward in search of a consolation but it was Sculpher's men who looked the more likely to score again with their lightning counter-attacks.

ARLESEY TOWN...0 CLITHEROE...3