HAMWORTHY United may possibly not be making an appearance at the Millennium Stadium in May 2005 but they did go one step closer to the FA Cup final when they successfully disposed of Liskeard Athletic in their extra preliminary round tie at the County Ground. Result: Hamworthy Utd 1 Liskeard Athletic 0

The odds for Hammers to lift the biggest domestic trophy in the world are set at 10,000-1 and if they were to come up against someone like Thierry Henry they may struggle to keep up.

But for clubs like United it's all about going as far as possible, bringing some much needed revenue into the club and giving the supporters something to shout about.

And with even the Times newspaper present, Hammers had plenty to shout about in a hard fought cup tie which threatened to boil over, particularly towards the end.

Alex Pike's side deservedly booked their place for a trip to Bitton on Saturday in the preliminary round and understandably the charismatic boss was delighted with the outcome, handing particular praise to wide man Jamie Holland.

"We came here to win the tie and that's what we've done," said Pike.

"My job is to win football matches and after the opening that we had against Gosport and Thatcham we weren't doing that so we had to go back to basics.

"We need to keep clean sheets and we've done that in two games now. With the goals that we've got in the side with Karim (Banssaouda), Jamie Holland and Darren Orchard, people used to say that I couldn't play with those three in the same side.

"Jamie Holland has adapted superbly well on the right wing and I've always thought that is his best position and it was up to us to get him fit and give him the right attitude to play in that position.

"He's been superb in the last two games and my hat goes off to him. We need players like him at this football club.

"If he continues like that there is no way we will be able to keep him because he could kill loads of teams with his pace."

Unlike Kelly Holmes, Pike's outfit were first out of the blocks but the final outcome was the same - victory.

It may not have been a gold medal for the new Wessex One boys but a triumph in an FA Cup match for the first time in over half a century was a triumph worthy of getting the bubbly out none theless.

Hammers began with an effort on goal from Karim Banssaouda but Simon Zinn in the Liskeard goal was equal to it.

A minute later Anthony Tilley's far post corner was headed inches wide by the lively Jimmy Edwards.

Tom Hawkins then had to be alert in the Hammers goal, saving at point blank range from a John Dawe effort.

Play soon reverted back to the other end of the park and Banssaouda twice came close to opening the scoring.

The former Poole Town striker was a constant threat to the Cornish outfit, so it was no surprise when after 54 minutes Banssaouda grabbed the only goal of the game.

Ryan Lucas, who also had an excellent game, played an inch perfect ball to Holland, who in turn immediately found Banssaouda with a short crisp pass.

Banssaouda then rounded a defender as though he wasn't there and thumped a superb left foot volley into the roof of the visitors' net.

In the final few minutes of the game the visitors showed signs of utter frustration and tempers began to unnecessarily boil over.

The ref managed to control what could have been an ugly end though, for what turned out to be a bit of history for the club.

Hammers: Hawkins, Bedward, McCormick, Edwards, Bartlett, Williams, Tilley, Holland, Banssaouda (Walden 90), Orchard, Lucas.

Unused subs: Rodriguez, Gilbert, Dronyk, Hutchins.