BEMERTON Heath Harlequins produced one of the biggest FA Cup shocks so far this season, as they beat visiting Thatcham Town 3-2 on Tuesday night.

Wessex Premier outfit Bemmy having drawn the first game 0-0 in Berkshire to the reigning FA Vase winners and Southern League Division One raced into a 3-0 lead at home at half-time

Bemerton were quite simply unplayable in the first half and completely dominated the visitors.

Jake Burgess scored with a looping header to open the scoring, then Kelvin Robinson netted with a great finish from just inside the box.

The goal of the game then came from Charlie Young who made it 3-0 from around 35 yards, catching the goalkeeper off his line.

The Thatcham team talk at half time worked and they came out a different team.

They pulled a goal back on 52 minutes, and then another from the penalty spot 10 minutes later.

They had then Bemerton penned in for the majority of the second half, but brave and determined defending kept them out.

Their reward is a trip to Southern League Premier South high flyers Taunton Town in the first qualifying round.

It has been a great week for Bemmy as last Saturday, they set up a second round trip in the FA Vase at Bristol side Roman Glass St George after they beat Hythe and Dibden 2-1 in extra time.

Scott Hassell opened the scoring from a James Lightfoot corner and then Hythe equalised with a very lucky deflection. Bemerton scored the winner when Jamie Smith finished from another Lightfoot corner.

A delighted manager Rae Hughes said: "It has been a decent few days to be fair. We scraped through on Saturday with a scrappy, poor performance and then produced the best 45 minutes of football I have had as a manager to take the game away from Thatcham.

"Every man put their body on the line which is what you need if you want to win against this kind of opposition. We now have a fantastic day out to look forward to this Saturday with absolutely no pressure on us.

He added: "Unfortunately the game comes at a bad time with 6 of last nights starting 11 unavailable. It will give the others and some of the reserves an opportunity though to experience a big crowd and a good team”