Sutton United are making a habit of taking big-name scalps at Gander Green Lane, with Arsenal up next in their fairytale Emirates FA Cup run.
But this weekend attention turns to The Buildbase FA Trophy third round as Boreham Wood come to town looking to seal a quarter-final berth.
The two National League sides have already met in the league this season and it was the Wood that emerged victorious.
That victory lifted the Hertfordshire club up to seventh in the National League table but they have not won in the league since November and now their play-off hopes seem all but over.
But manager Luke Garrard is confident his side can go to Gander Green Lane and keep their season alive against a Sutton side who have captured the public’s imagination with their FA Cup heroics.
“They have done a fantastic job – I texted Dozzy (Sutton boss Paul Doswell) before the game to wish him luck and again afterwards to congratulate him – what a superb draw that is for them against Arsenal,” said Garrard.
“They have got quality throughout. I went to watch them against Worthing and they chopped and changed but still looked very strong.
“The Trophy is not a distraction for them; they are playing superbly in the cups.
“They came into the league and got to grips with it quite well and then what they are doing in the cups is just phenomenal.
“What Dozz and Danny Cowley with Lincoln are doing is a fantastic advert for the National League. It’s been huge.
“Our aim is to go as far as possible. Our hopes of the play-offs have taken a hit – we are still focused on the league but the chance to go and play at Wembley is huge.”
Boreham Wood made it to the Trophy semi-finals in 2004/05.
And Garrard would love nothing more than to better that achievement, starting with winning on the 4G pitch at Gander Green Lane.
“We train on 3G and 4G pitches and played on one against Alfreton recently, so we are used to it,” he added.
“We have got quality in the group and strength in depth, we can cause problems to any side – we just hope it is our day on Saturday.
“It’s not about the money, it’s about the glory. This is what you play the game for, to get to Wembley.
“When they did it before they were even lower in the pyramid. It was an unbelievable achievement and one we would love to emulate and try and go one better.”
FA Trophy history
Boreham Wood made the semi-finals in 2004/05 but have not made it past the third round since then.
Sutton lost in the FA Trophy Final at Wembley in 1980/81 and went out at the third round stage last season in a replay to Bognor Regis Town.
Did you know?
Sutton United, along with Lincoln City, have made history this season. It is the first time two non-league sides have made the last-16 in The Emirates FA Cup.
One to watch
Former Arsenal youth product Anthony Jeffrey is in “the form of his life” according to boss Garrard, but the real key will be goalkeeper Grant Smith.
Signed in the summer from Bognor, the stopper has been an important addition and Boreham, despite their recent struggles in the league, still have the second best defensive record in the National League.
The prize
The winners will bank a cheque for £7,000 and book a place in Monday’s quarter-final draw, which will be held at Wembley Stadium from 10.30am and streamed live on Periscope via the @FA Twitter account.
Non-League Finals Day
The final of The Buildbase FA Trophy forms part of Non-League Finals Day, which takes place at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 21 May. Tickets are now on sale from ticketing.thefa.com priced at just £12.50 for adults and £1 for children.
