Boss Phil Parkinson says Nantwich are relishing the challenge of an FA Trophy third round qualifying clash at Stockport County as they look to build on a strong start to the season.
Currently top of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the Dabbers cruised past King’s Lynn in the last round but now face a daunting trip to Edgeley Park – no stranger to the big occasion in FA competitions through the years.
And, having gone out of the Emirates FA Cup earlier than expected, Parkinson knows just how important a £4,000 cheque for victory on Saturday and an extended run in the competition is for Nantwich.
Stockport County v Nantwich
The FA Trophy
Third Round Qualifying
3pm, Saturday 28 November 2015
Edgeley Park, Stockport County
Winners receive £4000 from prize fund
By Paul Eddison
Click here for fixtures
"It’s massive for the club," he said.
"The FA Trophy is the life blood of the club, and especially after going out of The FA Cup earlier than we would have hoped.
"These are the sorts of games you want to be involved in, and it’s great to go to a club like Stockport with so much history, and who were a League club for so long.
"We’re having a great season and are top of the league, so we’re delighted with how things are going.
"We look at Stockport and they are where we want to be. There is a two-year plan in place to try and get promotion, so even if we don’t go up this year, we hope to next season.
"But we’re all really excited about this game. We’ve been along to watch them, and the pitch looks immaculate.
"We try to get the ball down and play football, so that will really help how we want to play."
While the game represents a dream tie for Nantwich, Stockport boss Neil Young admits he would have preferred facing anyone else in the third qualifying round.
It's the third round qualifying of The FA Trophy this weekend
And with his team currently eighth in National League North, Young feels they need to cut out the silly errors if they are going to achieve the targets set out at the start of the season.
"We’ve probably got the biggest banana skin you could hope to get in this tournament," said Young.
"Nantwich are top of the division below and are scoring goals for fun. I think they’ve scored more goals than any other team in the country so we know they will be dangerous.
"They’ve got nothing to lose and probably look at us as a team that’s a bit low on confidence.
"Phil Parkinson is doing a really good job there and he’s got them playing really good football.
"From our point of view, there are two big things that are killing us. We keep gifting goals away with stupid errors, and we aren’t scoring enough.
"We’re eighth in the league but we’ve scored the fewest goals of anyone in the top half.
"We’re working to try to change that, but it takes time."
