Chris Rawlinson admits that everybody at Spalding United would love a cup run as they prepare to get their Buildbase FA Trophy campaign under way on Saturday.
The Tulips chief reckons that his side have been “pretty rubbish” in the cup competitions in recent seasons, but wants that to end at Chasetown this weekend.
Rawlinson’s side lost 3-0 to Grantham Town in their Lincolnshire Senior Shield opener, were dumped out of the Emirates FA Cup by lower graded Wisbech Town and were last week beaten on penalties by Gresley in the Integro League Cup – meaning they’ve yet to win a cup tie this campaign.
However, the omens are good for a reverse in fortunes at Evo-Stik NPL First Division South rivals Chasetown this weekend.
Spalding beat the Scholars 2-0 at the Sir Halley in September and went unbeaten against them last season, winning 2-1 at home (January) and drawing 1-1 at Church Street (October 2016).
Rawlinson reckons that his side have “every chance” of progressing if they play to the best of ability, but accepts that Chasetown are a tough nut to crack on their own turf.
“Obviously the draw holds no surprises for us,” said the Tulips chief. “I felt we were full value for the win against them earlier in the season.
“To be honest, we’ve played most of the top teams this season and there has been nobody that has really stood out and made me go ‘wow’ as of yet.
“We can go to Chasetown full of confidence, knowing that we deserved to beat them in the league.
“Of course, they’ll probably feel differently and think that they could have nicked a draw against us.
“Regardless, the FA Trophy is a competition that we’d love to do well in. It benefits the club financially, which is – of course – always nice.
“But I think it would just be nice for us to have some sort of cup run. For whatever reason, we’ve been pretty rubbish in the cup competitions as of late.
“Having a decent go in the FA Trophy would certainly be welcomed by everyone at the club and the players feel the same.
“There’s a chance you can get a big draw later in the competition, which would also be great. That’s got to be the aim for us.
“I can’t really put my finger on what we’ve done so badly, but Chasetown away is like another league game.
“We’ve been good as of late in the league, so we can travel there knowing that – if we play to the best of our ability – we should be able to win the game.”
Saturday’s hosts Chasetown are 17th in the table, some seven points behind sixth-placed Spalding.
They have won three of their six matches at home, though. Earlier in the season they also toppled higher-graded Worcester City 2-0 in the FA Cup, making them a tricky opponent.
The Tulips will make the trip with defender Neal Spafford, who is out for three months after tearing his calf in the 2-1 win at Romulus on Saturday (see page 36).
That means Jack Fixter, who Rawlinson admits has been “very unlucky” to be on the bench in recent weeks, will come into the side.
Paul Walker is likely to switch to centre back in Spafford’s absence, with flying full-back Fixter taking on the right back role.
The winners of Saturday’s first round qualifying clash will bank a healthy £3,250 in FA prize money. Should the game finish in a draw, there will be a midweek replay.
