VCD Athletic are on the verge of dreamland when they face Bideford tomorrow in the fifth round of the FA Vase.

Victory would send the Vickers into the quarter-finals against Billingham Synphonia.

It would mean a long trip to Cleveland but boss Martin Ford says they do not fear either the journey or the team.

He believes the tougher challenge is getting past Bideford at Oakwood and he wants a good crowd to cheer them on.

Ford said: "We know how Bideford play, so we have got to try and match them in the areas where we think they are going to hurt us.

"They play three at the back and four across the middle and have a very experienced player in the hole behind the front two so we need to get to grips with that system.

"We don't normally face that week in, week out in the Kent League but at the same we won't go changing our tactics or shape or the way we play.

"We're hoping they have to cope with us more than we have to cope with them."

He added: "Everyone is looking forward to it and I hope the cancellation last weekend has not put a lot of people off.

"The draw against Billingham has not been kind in the travelling sense but if were to draw them at home, then we looked at it as a fantastic tie because they are not doing so well in their league.

"We have already played West Auckland in their league and they were fourth or fifth, you look at Billingham and they're about 14th/15th.

"If we can beat Bideford, who are going to be a stronger opposition to Billingham, we do travel well.

"Our away record over the last few seasons has been excellent and it is tie which does not frighten us whatsoever.

"We think we can win if we can get past Bideford but of the two ties, Bideford is going to be the toughest."

Ford has a full squad from which to chose his final team although Stuart Abbott is likely to be rested as he is suffering from flu.

And the significance of getting past Bideford and Billingham to the semi-finals has not been lost on Ford.

He said: "If we did that then we would be in dreamland.

"It has been a difficult week, with the game being on or off, on or off, and we learnt yesterday we have been slung out the London Cup.

"It has been hard to concentrate on the Vase and my phone has not stopped with well wishers.

"The FA Vase does grab people's imagination and it is a competition where the longer you stay in, the more fantastic it is.

"And the carrot at the end of the day is there is a very good chance the final is going to be held at Wembley."

He added: "If we can beat Bideford, then we really start thinking about could you get there'.

"There are some fantastic sides left in it, we're just glad we've missed the Leamingtons and the Truro Citys because they are the strong sides in the competition this year."

He said: "But we just want to concentrate on ourselves tomorrow and I am certain it will be a fantastic atmosphere tomorrow and I hope everyone come out in force to watch and cheer us on.

"We have just got to try to do our best for Kent. Win, lose or draw we want to put on a good show and if we're not good enough at the end of the day, then we just have to crack on with what we have got left to win this season."