THE last time Wimborne Town beat Chard in the FA Vase, Right Said Fred were top of the charts with Deeply Dippy, Dr Devious won the Epsom Derby, and Nick Faldo won his third British Open at Muirfield... Oh, and Wimborne Town went all the way in the Vase, culminating in the most memorable day in the history of the club, the day they managed to run out 3-1 victors over Guisley at Wembley Stadium.

Of the team that played on that famous day eleven years ago, only Jamie Sturgess remains and for Sturgess, the FA Vase means just one thing: A truck filled with hope and memories, bad times and good, but when the days are good they remain unforgettable.

"It did bring back memories today, of course it did," explained the evergreen utility man, "but all it does is make you want to get to the final again."

Whether The Magpies can get there again is open to question, because the final result says of course they can, but their first half performance said: No way, Jose.

In a carbon copy of last week's 3-1 victory in the FA Cup at Elmore, Magpies first half performance was poor, and if they are to achieve any of their perceived aspirations this year they are going to have to come out of the blocks quicker in games, because yet again they were sluggish and bereft of ideas against a Chard outfit that were light on skill, but heavy on creation.

The visitors' persistence paid off in the 35th minute when, after Warren Doyle lost possession in midfield, the ball was quickly played through to Stuart Larcombe who coolly fired past the onrushing Stuart Kearn.

With the visitors going in one-up, I tried to think of something meaningful that happened for the Magpies in the first half, but apart from the industry and guile of the ever creative Mark Smith I drew a blank as expansive as my ugly mug.

Then, just a minute into the second period, Sam Percival nodded down a superb Marcus Oldbury free kick for Garreth Barnes to fire in from three yards, and that was it.

It was the goal that broke the back of the game, as suddenly, Wimborne released the shackles and proceeded to demolish their West Country opposition.

After some fantastic football involving Andy Barham and Olly Phillipson-Masters in the 70th minute, the ball was whipped into the box to be met by the head of Barnes who duly notched his second.

Five minutes later, again after some excellent approach play from Darren Powell, Barham and Oldbury, wonder kid Warren Doyle sneaked behind a static Chard defence and scored with a cheeky looping header to make it three.

Following a smart pass from Percival in the 80th minute, Doyle scored his fifth goal of the week and Wimborne's twelfth, to make it 4-1 on the day and send the Magpies into the second qualifying round where they will play Falmouth Town at The Cuthbury on September 20.

Magpies: Kearn, Parkin, Phillipson-Masters, Powell, Roast (Percival 28), Sc Cannie (Barham 45), Oldbury, Smith, Barnes, Doyle (Stainer 90), Sturgess.