LITTLE Oakley manager Sean Tynan admits his side are “riding on the crest of a wave” following their FA Vase heroics.

The Acorns booked their place in the first-round proper after a 1-0 victory against Hadleigh United at the Memorial Ground on Saturday.

Greg Rodger’s spectacular goal separated the sides in the second qualifying round showdown and Oakley have now been rewarded with another home tie, against Essex Senior League side Enfield 1893, on October 13.

Tynan is determined to keep his feet on the ground – but says everyone at the club is rightly “lapping up” the current euphoria.

“You have to remember we’re only a village side,” said Tynan, whose side are also flying high in Thurlow Nunn League division one south, currently sitting second heading into Saturday’s match at Wivenhoe Town.

“We can’t lose sight of where we’ve come from and where we’re at, compared to bigger and more established sides like Hadleigh.

“Two years ago we were playing in the Border League, with all due respect, and now we’re in the first-round proper of the FA Vase.

“To win a game like last weekend was brilliant for everyone and these are the sort of teams we want to be playing week in, week out.

“It’s exciting and we’re already looking forward to the next round, although I must stress that the league is still very much our top priority.

“We’ve got some important games to play between now and then and we have to stay focused, because we want to keep challenging in the top five.

“We want to keep picking up points but it’s always nice to have a cup run.

“We’re riding on the crest of a wave and have momentum behind us at the moment.

“While we always keep our feet on the ground, you have to enjoy moments like this.

“It’s what we’re in football for and long may it continue.

“A lot of hard work has gone into getting the club this far and it was lovely to see everyone in a jovial, celebratory mood on Saturday night.

“We’re lapping it up.”

Tynan felt his side were good value for their narrow victory at the weekend, based on their character and work-rate.

However, he admitted it was a hard-fought contest that could have gone either way.

“It was a fantastic result for our club,” he said.

“We had to dig deep and battle for long periods but we got there in the end.

“It wasn’t pretty at times and we were nervous.

“It took a long while to settle into the game – probably half an hour – but we hung in there and the winning goal was one of real quality.

“Hadleigh could have snatched an equaliser right at the end but we rode our luck and took our chance.

“When you do that, you’ve always got a chance.

“The boys were absolutely buzzing afterwards and it was a great result against a premier division team.

“Hadleigh had beaten Wroxham 3-0 the previous Saturday.

“We’d had them watched and knew we were in for a tough afternoon.

“Kyle Cassell, their striker, is a real handful, too, but we defended well and earned the clean sheet.”

Former England international and ex-Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and West Ham defender Neil Ruddock is part of the coaching team at Enfield.

Oakley are back at the Memorial Ground on Tuesday night, when they entertain Brightlingsea Regent Reserves in the League Challenge Cup.