A LEE Wherton strike earned Gornal Athletic an historic FA Vase fifth round win at Bodmin.

The victory in Cornwall, against a tough outfit from the South West Peninsula League, ensured the Peacocks' passage into the last eight of the competition.

Ian Rowe, his team, club officials and jubilant supporters will now turn their attentions to Monday's quarter-final draw - with the Wembley Arch getting ever closer into view.

In a game that was played on a pitch and often in a manner more suited to rugby, the steel and resolve of the visitors held off through spells of intense Bodmin pressure.

Bodmin's tank like forward Adam Carter formed the basis of much of the Bodmin attack and a bruising encounter with Gornal skipper Chris Waterhouse characterised the game.

The hosts had the ball in the net on five minutes, only for Sam Matthews' goal to be struck off for handball.

What would prove the decisive moment came on 12 minutes when a Chris Rabone snap shot from the edge of the area was deflected wide.

From the resulting corner, Wherton found the ball on the edge of the box and fired a shot which was deflected past Bodmin keeper Kevin Miller.

Bodmin almost struck back immediately, a through ball down the slope found Matthews who tucked his shot just wide of James Pemberton's post.

A sustained period of pressure from Bodmin followed as they sought to capitalise on the slope being in their favour.

On 31 minutes an Adam Carter header went just wide from a Steve Colwell cross and just seconds later Shane Krac curled a shot from the edge of the area which Pemberton was forced to tip over the bar.

Gornal could and should have doubled their lead in the final minutes of the half when Green's run down the right flank saw him feed Marvin Nisbett, only for the striker to fluff his lines from close range.

Managing to hold onto their lead at the interval, Gornal boss Ian Rowe sacrificed front man Callum Martin for midfielder Gurd Wilkhoo.

The second half was an onslaught but Gornal battled valiantly to defend their slender advantage.

As the pitch cut up badly, the ball spent more time in the air as Bodmin sought to use their size advantage.

On 63 minutes Chris Luxon got the better of Kristian Green and looked to loop a cross in for the marauding Carter but only managed to hit the roof of the net.

Seven minutes later the problematic Carter headed a Colwell corner onto the roof of the net.

Bodmin threw the proverbial kitchen sink at Gornal in the closing stages, with Pemberton saving superbly from Chris Luxton from range on 83 minutes.

And one final assault on the Gornal goal saw some desperate defending deny Bodmin three times, with Wilkhoo clearing on the line.

Wild scenes of celebration from the visitors greeted the final whistle as Rowe's men emerged as victors by the slenderest of margins.

PEACOCKS: James Pemberton, Pete Wood, Curtis Tilt, Chris Waterhouse, Kristian Green, Matt Weyman (Robert Blair, 90), Lee Wherton, Michael Perks, Chris Raybone (Ravi Sanga, 89), Callum Martin (Gurd Wilkhoo, 45), Marvin Nisbett.

Goal: Wherton 12. 

BODMIN: Kevin Miller, Huw Morgan (Glynn Hobbs, 68), Luke Rundle, Tom Chambers, Stephen Simmonds, Ollie Brokenshire, Steve Colwell (Lee Doel, 84), Shane Krac, Adam Carter, Chris Luxton, Sam Matthews.