Hendon have not had to wait long for a second stab at their Emirates FA Cup conquerors.
Last month, the Greens travelled to Isthmian League Division One North side AFC Sudbury – one level below them in the league system – for an FA Cup first round qualifying tie.
They left with a 3-1 defeat, licking their wounds and turning their attentions back to the league, until the draw for the FA Trophy first round qualifying was revealed.
Hendon v AFC Sudbury
FA Trophy
First round qualifying
3pm, Sunday 1 November
Winners receive £2,700 from FA Prize Fund
Hendon landed a clash with Sudbury, this time on home soil, and manager Gary McCann – in his 11th season in charge of the club – admits it is time he took the Greens deep into the competition.
“We have done absolutely rubbish in the Trophy in the last decade,” he said. “It has been a nemesis of mine. The draw hasn’t been overly kind to us in the past and that proves to be the case again this year.
“It’s a bit strange how it has turned out, but we are familiar with them and I am sure they are familiar with us.
“If you look at their personnel, they are geared for the next level but they have just come up short in the last year or two.
“They are a tough outfit and we found that out last month. It was a game that we should have been able to overcome but for whatever reason we underperformed on the day.
“It was disappointing, but we have an opportunity to try and put it right and the boys are geared for an FA Trophy run.
“‘Response’ is a better word than ‘revenge’. When we get beaten by anyone, we expect a good reaction when we meet them again.”
Sudbury, meanwhile, are out to prove that result last month was not just a one-off and that they can comfortably rub shoulders with Premier Division opposition.
“This fixture is an opportunity for them to get some revenge and also an opportunity for us to show it wasn’t a fluke”
Jamie Godbold Sudbury manager
Lying second in the Division One North table and with serious promotion aspirations, Jamie Godbold’s side approach the FA Trophy first round qualifying in high spirits.
And the manager, who reached the FA Vase final with Lowestoft Town during his playing days, is eyeing up another cup scalp this weekend.
“This fixture is an opportunity for them to get some revenge and also an opportunity for us to show it wasn’t a fluke or a one-off,” said Godbold.
“Hendon are the league above us, it’s the league we are striving to get into and it’s another good test of how far away we are and where we need to improve.
“A cup run can put us on the map a bit, in terms of how far we want to progress as a club. It’s an opportunity to play against bigger and better teams and it can be a welcome break from league action.
“This is my first taste of the FA Trophy as a manager, but I got to the Vase final with Lowestoft back in 2008. It just happened for us that year and we all enjoyed the experience – now I can draw on those experiences.”
