FA Cup: Wilkin reflects on historic night for Saints

Brackley Town's Steve Diggin tries to get his shot away as Gillingham's Deji Oshilaja looks on

Wilkin said the celebrations - non-alcoholic of course - had gone on long into the night at St James Park after his side’s thrilling 4-3 extra-time victory over Gillingham.

Now Saints face a trip to Blackpool in the second round next month and Wilkin is looking forward to a trip to the seaside.

Wilkin said: “It was a long night and now I’m even prouder of the players. They showed great character to come back after being pegged back for the second time in the tie having led by two goals again.

“The biggest compliment is that people were saying they couldn’t tell which was the League One team and which was the non-league team.”

James Armson completed a fairytale hat-trick, his third goal capturing the headlines, but it was the second of his treble which pleased Wilkin most.

It was created by Steve Diggin, who went from laying tarmacadam a few hours earlier to laying on the perfect cross for Armson to score.

Wilkin added: “That was a perfect team goal, Alex Gudger won a great tackle with Jay Emmanuel-Thomas to win possession for us. James [Armson] released Steve [Diggin] and his delivery was superb for James to meet it first time.

“Steve has done that before this season, producing crosses like that.”