2:51pm Friday 27th August 2010
By Andrew Simpson
WITTON Albion’s manager believes a successful FA Cup campaign is key to his hopes of having more money to spend on better players.
Paul Ogden told the Guardian that tomorrow’s Preliminary Round clash at Evo-Stik League Division One North rivals Mossley is a crucial one.
“I’m under no illusion as to how important an run in the cup is; it’s the same for every club operating at the level we do,” he said.
“It’s a good way of getting money into the club and nobody is more aware of that than we are.
“The first hurdle is always the toughest to get over, but do that and you start straight away to build momentum as you’re in the competition.”
But his team’s task on Saturday is a tough one.
Even if Mossley have lost each of their first two league matches without scoring a goal.
“It’s not the most favourable of draws,” said the Witton manager.
“Mossley is a tough place to go and they have strengths that we are well aware of after watching them three times over the past few weeks.
“They were the better team against Bamber Bridge [last Saturday] and only lost so heavily at Clitheroe [in midweek] because they had a player sent off in the first half.
“Make no mistake; they’ll want to bounce back [against us].
“That means everything has to be right so that we can get the job done.”
Witton’s start has been encouraging; a 1-0 win over Garforth Town last Saturday was followed by a creditable draw at promotion hopefuls AFC Fylde in midweek.
However they bowed out of the FA Cup at this stage last term against lower-ranked neighbours Congleton Town.
“I’ve had a lot of practice preparing for FA Cup ties and my record over the years in the competition isn’t too bad,” added Ogden.
“I’m not interested in what happened last year either.
“We could talk about that all day but it’s pointless; I’m thinking only about what happens at Mossley.”
The victors meet the winners of St Helen’s Town’s clash with fellow North West Counties League Premier Division club Glossop North End.
If Witton draw at Mossley tomorrow then they host the Lilywhites at Wincham Park in a replay next Wednesday, September 1, kick off 7.45pm.
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