Graham Malcolm was a proud man after watching his Flackwell Heath side write themselves into the history books with a 3-0 victory against Hullbridge Sports on Saturday – a win which puts them into the last 16 of the FA Vase.

Two goals from Dan Burnell and one from Dan Rapley secured Heath’s progress to the fifth round of the competition for the first time in the club’s history.

Heath had dispatched Ash United, Frimley Green, Thatcham Town, East Preston and Peterborough Northern Star before Hullbridge became their latest victims, leaving Malcolm to praise the efforts of everyone involved with the club.

He said: “I’m just so proud that we as a club have reached the last 16 of a national tournament; it’s a fantastic achievement.

“Myself and my assistant Paul Shone are delighted and we’re delighted for the players. I’ll let you know when it ends how I feel personally. At the moment I keep thinking ‘It’s only another game, why can’t we win the game?’ “These seasons don’t come along often and everybody is doing all they can. The chairman and his assistant made sure the pitch was ready; they were working on it at one o’clock after we’d had some snow in the morning.

“The pitch was excellent and they complimented us on our pitch because we’d worked really, really hard. The players certainly didn’t let anyone down so it was a pleasure to watch.”

Flackwell took full advantage of being drawn at home for the tie having played away in the last three rounds of the tournament.

But they will again be on the road for round five after being drawn away to the winners of a replay between midlands outfit Walsall Wood and Barnsley-based Shaw Lane Aquaforce, a draw which Malcolm says will not faze his squad.

He said: “It definitely won’t faze us. That’s the thing that you go away, you all go together and you arrive together, and that was my fear on Saturday when they came to us because I’ve had experience of us doing it in the last two rounds.

“It’s something to look forward to and it’s kind of a freebie for us. It’s the last 16; everything has been achieved that we possibly wanted to achieve and now it’s about can we nick another win? That’s the thing for me.”

Malcolm and his staff will be doing their homework on their potential opponents when the two sides meet in the replay on Saturday, with the Flackwell manager sending a scout to gain as much information as possible.

He said: “The boys know now that they have a chance. They know that it’s one game. We’re going to watch them on Saturday, the replay – we’re sending someone to Barnsley believe it or not – because we’re trying to do it seriously.

“We’re trying to do it properly and we figure if we get enough information it will help our players, it will help us and help us decide on who plays out of a big squad.”

Heath’s date with the last 16 is scheduled for February 7, and Malcolm is intent on enjoying his side’s fairytale cup run for however long it lasts.

He explained: “It’s a great time to be a manager. On a personal note, I’m enjoying it because I know that this doesn’t always happen.”