HEBBURN Town may be far-fetched candidates to claim the FA Cup come May - though they are coming to York in a decent vein of cup form.

The Hornets are not off to the best of starts in their league campaign but they are going well in the Cup, having seen off teams at either the same tier or higher.

In the preliminary round of the Cup, Hebburn thrashed fellow Northern Premier League east division side Yorkshire Amateur 7-0 before going on to beat NPL premier division side Ashton United - featuring ex-York City player Jack Redshaw - 1-0.

This, after winning the 2019/20 FA Vase final at Wembley - an event delayed until May of this year - as well as the Northern League's 2020/2021 JR Cleator Cup, played in July.

Hebburn's hero in London was Olly Martin with a late goal after his side had twice fought back against North East rivals Consett.

He netted a double at Yorkshire Amateur, adding to braces from Connor Bell and Michael Richardson. Robbie Spence scored the other in Leeds, while Amar Purewal nipped in to poke home an early winner in Ashton-under-Lyne.

The furthest Hebburn have made it in the FA Cup is the fourth round qualifying stage.

In the league, Hebburn are one of three sides from the Step 5 competition Northern League first division to successfully apply to join the NPL east division at Step 4, joining Tadcaster Albion and Pickering Town.

Managed by Kevin Bolam, Hebburn have picked up just five points from seven games and sit 15th of 19 (above both Taddy and Pickering).

Their only league win thus far came against Yorkshire Amateur just two and a half weeks after their cup thumping. Top scorers Bell (2), Spence and Martin were again on target.

The club say they have filled all four coaches for their trip to the LNER Community Stadium.