CLITHEROE assistant boss Lee Sculpher daren't yet dream of running out onto Villa Park -- but if the Blues reach the FA Vase quarter-finals tomorrow his mind might just wander.

The 30-year-old defender has spent his football career around the local scene taking in Accrington Stanley, Great Harwood and Atherton LR among others.

His biggest games so far have been at Bamber Bridge where they were on the verge of the Conference before losing their way near the end of the season.

But by defeating Wessex side Wimborne in the fourth round of the Vase tomorrow he could be close to eclipsing those Bamber Bridge days -- and it will bring the dream of another Vase final closer for the Blues.

Sculpher is in his third spell at Shawbridge but wasn't there when Clitheroe reached the final of the competition in 1996 only to lose to Brigg Town at Wembley.

"The fans still talk about their trip to Wembley but at the moment the team isn't feeling any sense of pressure," said Sculpher. "In my time at Bamber Bridge every game seemed a pressure game as we were going for promotion from the UniBond Premier Division and, because of that experience, I know it's an old cliche but now at Clitheroe we're taking each game as it comes.

"But I think if we get through tomorrow then the pressure grows because of Clitheroe's history in the competition and because we will be in the last 16.

"We are all aware when the final is -- the first Sunday in May -- but not until after this game will we even think about a trip to Aston Villa."

Clitheroe face a seven hour trip down to Wimborne, which is near Bournemouth.

"I think we need a passport to go there," joked Sculpher. "We're going down on Friday and staying over which is a bit of a luxury -- and we can check everyone is in bed by 11pm. No booze!

"We're praying it's on as we don't think everyone can get a Friday off the week after!"

Manager Dave Burgess has been doing his homework on the side -- via the internet.

"I've had a look at other teams in the Wessex League and spoke to one of their managers about the team. I don't think we could really justify a scouting mission down there!

"He was actually very good and gave me a few details."

And he's delighted that there's a coach load of Clitheroe fans making the epic journey.

"They are great, especially to make such a trip. It helps us and can put off the other team. In an earlier round at Easington the crowd was 150 -- 100 were for us!"

But before Dave thinks about Wimbourne, he's ready to win the Connect Four challenge on the coach down there.

"I'm champion in my house so I think I'll throw down the challenge to the players," joked the manager. He has a full compliment of players available except Dennis Hill who is cup-tied.

GUIDE TO WIMBORNE

Wimborne, which is near Bournemouth, are champions of the Jewson Wessex League having completed the league and cup double last season.

They are currently eighth in the table with a host of games in hand over the sides above them due to a number of games flooded off by the adjacent River Stour.

Wimborne, whose ground is called the Cuthbury, won the FA Vase in 1992 when they beat Guiseley 5-3 in the final. In the same season they won the league and the Dorset Senior Cup.

The club became the first from Dorset to play at Wembley.

The manager who guided them to their Vase triumph, Alex Pike, is back at Wimborne and in his first full season back in charge completed the double last term.

Pike has already announced his ambition to become the first manager to win the Vase in two centuries.

He is being assisted by player-coach Tommy Killick, who scored twice against Guiseley in the Wembley final and was non-league player of the year in 1992.