Both clubs warmed up with league home wins. Step six
minnows Gresley beat Gedling Town by a 2-0 margin while Needham scored the only goal against Dereham Town with Danny Thrower the marksman.
By contrast the Bucks' home game against St Ives and
the Town's visit to third-placed Deeping
Rangers both fell victim to frozen pitches which failed Saturday
morning inspections.
Ady Fuller's men have conceded only 11 goals in 21 UCL Premier Division matches but are second best to Midland Alliance runaway leaders Barwell when it comes to defensive capabilities.
Top-of-the-table by a massive 18 points, Barwell have let in only a handful of goals in 22 league games.
Barwell travel to Willand Rovers on Saturday while holders Whitley Bay go down south to take on a Chertsey Town side for whom striker John Pomroy scored four times against Plymouth Parkway in round four.
St Ives demolished Tiptree by 7-0 to reach the last 16 but will find Northern League Shildon an altogether different proposition. New Mills and Whitehawk both look set for home wins while the Bucks' should prove too good for Gresley at Station Road. Daventry Town's trip to Needham Market in Suffolk seems more problematical on a day when Shildon and Whitley Bay are expected to make it through to the sixth round on February 27.
FA Vase fifth round this Saurday:
St Ives v. Shildon, New Mills v. Norton and Stockton Ancients, Whitehawk v. Marske United, Long Buckby v. Gresley, Willand Rovers v. Barwell, Royston Town v. Armthorpe Welfare or Wroxham, Needham Market v. Daventry Town and Chertsey Town v. Whitley Bay.
