FOLLOWING on from their unbeaten start to the new SW Peninsula League campaign, Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police have now laid down a statement of intent in the FA Vase too.

The South Hams side, managed by Matt Hayden and Sam Biscoe, scored five times down in Cornwall to advance to the next round.

St Day AFC were the opponents for Stoke and their season went from bad to worse with this 5-0 beating.

It took just three minutes for Tom Burt to open the scoring for the away side, the former Bovey Tracey AFC man lobbing St Day’s shot-stopper from 30 yards out.

Burt switched scoring goals to assisting them just moments later, setting up Ben Aldous.

Stoke led by two at the break with Aldous completing his hat-trick in the second half, but not before Tom Dunlop could head home their third of the afternoon.

Coming into this one, the team from Redruth were 0-4 in the Peninsula League West, conceding 16 times and scoring just twice, all of which were away games.

They didn’t have any more luck back on home soil though with Stoke making it three wins and a draw from their opening four.

The aforementioned Bovey Tracey, for whom Hayden used to be the manager, also enjoyed a cup clash to remember.

Taking on Western League outfit St Austell AFC, the Moorlanders came from behind to win 3-1. Bovey were on behind at the turn with a Stu Bowker penalty then getting them back on level terms. Ollie Aplin netted twice to complete the turnaround for Ben Gerring’s side.

Other Vase results included Torrington AFC 0-1 Teignmouth AFC and a penalty shootout defeat for Middlezoy Rovers away at Torpoint Athletic.

Stoke attentions now return to league football with a midweek trip, tomorrow, to Newton Abbot Spurs. The latter lost 2-0 to local rivals Bovey last Tuesday and so Stoke will be looking to compound their misery.

August then concludes with another away game, the Railway Men taking on Torridgeside AFC on Saturday, 30.