THE hype of the FA Vase has made one defender take a trip down memory lane.

Salisbury's 1-0 first-legged defeat to favourites Hereford last Saturday reminds Welshman Callum Hart of the old club's epic Conference South play-off semi-final.

Three years ago the Whites lost the first leg at Chelmsford after Anthony Cook dispatched an 89th minute penalty.

But in the return leg, after a Mark Haines own goal evened the scores on the stroke of half time, a dramatic 90th minute thunderbolt from Stuart Sinclair won the tie to send them roaring into the final, which they went on to won at the expense of Dover Athletic.

It was an occasion Hart hopes the re-formed club, which he signed for in August last year, will emulate.

"We've got our home fans behind us tomorrow and that will make a massive difference," he told JournalSport.

"We will pack the Ray Mac out.

"I've been at this club a few years and we were 1-0 down in the Conference South play--off semi-final to Chelmsford and we turned it round and beat them 2-1.

"There's no reason why we cannot do that this time.

"There's a different set of players but it's still there for us, massively.

"We are raring to go."

Mustapha Bundu's header, four minutes into the second half, is the difference as the two phoenix clubs battle it out in tomorrow's second leg for a chance to grace the hallowed turf at Wembley.

Hereford are second in Midland Football League Premier Division, just one point behind Alvechurch but with a game in hand.

And they have a formidable away record, winning their last 14 on the road and losing just twice in their second and third games as a reborn club in August.

"They are the best side this season without a doubt," added Hart, 30.

"They have experience all over the park and were always comfortable in possession.

"They all knew each others' jobs. They are a very good side."

Hart's return to Edgar Street was for the first time since January 2014 alongside Jamie White with then Salisbury City in the Conference Premier.

And, like before, Whites went down 1-0 that day to a Dom Collins header.

"I did my thigh that day and got injured," he continued.

"When that happened we didn't have another game to put it right but with this one we do.

"We are all confident."

"The fans have been absolutely different class all season.

"We couldn't imagine the sort of fans we'd have through the gates."

Hart started his career as a trainee with Bristol City.

From there he went on to play at AFC Bournemouth in the Football League – where he met now Salisbury boss Steve Claridge – before joining Weymouth and Farnborough.

Hart first moved to the Ray Mac in 2011 from Bath City under Darrell Clarke.

That season he helped the club move up the non-league tiers, with promotion from Southern Premier to Conference South, and two years on (2012-13) he was part of the side which won promotion to the élite level of non-league after a three-year exile.

After the old club's collapse in 2014, Hart joined Sutton United where he spent one year.

During a career that spans more than ten years, he’s never scored a goal, a duck he hopes to eventually break.

Speaking on the differences between the old club and the new club, the left-back said: "There are not lots of differences really.

"Obviously, the level we are at is a massive difference but the fans are still the same.

"It's a club going places and it's a good club to be at.

"I'm really enjoying it."