WES TATE is dreaming of Wembley after helping Whitehawk reach the semi-finals of the FA Vase.

The pacy striker scored twice as Hawks won 3-1 at Gresley to become only the second Sussex side ever to reach the last four of this competition.

They are now just one two-legged semi-final away from an appearance at Wembley and Tate believes they have the quality in their squad to get there.

Tate said: “It has got to that point where we are thinking about Wembley, it is that close now. When you are a couple of rounds away it is just a dream but now we are one round away.

“We have beaten some good teams, pretty much all away from home, and we have got to fancy ourselves in a two-legged game. I always said if we got through this round I would fancy our chances.

“As the season has gone on everyone has got better and better and we are all confident now.”

Joint-boss George Parris should take a large slice of credit for masterminding this victory. His quietness belies the steely grit and tactical acumen which played key roles both before and during this game.

Parris concealed the fact he had three players suspended in the shape of skipper Jay Head, left-back Sam Fisk and midfielder Darren Budd. Instead he called in favours, bringing in former Albion duo Richard Carpenter and Darragh Ryan to plug the gaps.

Hawks’ problems grew in bizarre circumstances when Jay Lovett was ruled out by a thigh injury aggravated earlier in the day when he slipped running for the team coach which had initially failed to stop for him.

Parris made some tough calls in his selection and opted for midfielder Dan Taylor to replace Lovett at right-back and co-boss Darren Freeman up front, and then made astute substitutions in the second half which ultimately swung the game.

Having bossed the first half, Hawks lost their way slightly after conceding an equaliser in first-half stoppage but Parris responded by bringing on Kevin Townsend and Sam Crabb who in turn played the telling passes which led to each of Tate’s goals.

Former West Ham, Birmingham and Albion midfielder Parris said: “It was a shame we went in at 1-1 because we deserved to go in ahead.

“We said at half-time we needed to get the second goal and still pass the ball. We had a spell when we didn’t do that and they came into the game a bit but once we changed what we were doing and got the ball down again it was never in any doubt.

“To be only the second side in Sussex to do this is superb. We have two legs and normally over two legs the side who wins it deserves to go through.

“The standard of teams in the last four must be decent but it is about what we do. If we play well we must be a match for anyone.”

Hawks certainly played well in the first half, taking the lead on 17 minutes when Taylor slung over a cross from the right which Scott Kirkwood hooked home with his back to goal.

That silenced the home fans in a crowd of 861 and it could have been game over had Danny Davis and Tate converted chances in a good spell.

Instead the hosts drew level from their first meaningful attack on 47 minutes, when Matt Hill’s corner from the left went straight in at the near post with Lloyd Anderson flapping.

After a sticky start to the second half, Hawks reasserted their authority and went back in front on 66 minutes. Townsend clipped a ball into Josh Jones who centred across the face of goal for the diving Tate to head home.

Fellow substitute Crabb then helped on Justin Harris’ header to send Tate clear for the third with 15 minutes remaining and Carpenter almost added some gloss to the win with a low free-kick which home keeper Gary Hateley turned around the far post.

While Tate took the plaudits, 37-year-old Carpenter was excellent on his first display for several months.

Parris said: “Chippy was superb. He kept it simple, when it was there to be won he won it and when it was there to be passed he passed it. Ex-pros don’t lose it.”

Whitehawk: Anderson; Taylor, Holmes, Harris, Ryan; Kirkwood, Carpenter, Davis (sub Townsend 54); Tate, Freeman (sub Crabb 71), Jones. Subs not used: Whiteman, Bird, Davies.

Gresley: Hateley; Hill, Gray, Barrett, Butler (sub Gough 51); Lyons (sub Marshall 77), Langord, Slater, Woodall, Betteridge (sub Spencer 77); Turville. Subs not used: Edwards, Bladwin.

Referee: Mr R.Wigglesworth.

Attendance: 861.