JIM Gannon insists his Vics side will approach an FA Cup second-round tie with League Two Northampton with full confidence.

They stunned National League outfit Boreham Wood on Monday with a 2-1 replay win at the Hertfordshire club’s Meadow Park home.

Northwich are the lowest-ranked team left in the competition as a result, for which their reward is a trip to take on the Cobblers next month.

“It was a tough test to go to a higher league team away from home,” said Gannon.

“But we had prepared well and went down there with a good mentality.

“I was pleased with the way the lads played, but we’re going to places with great confidence at the moment.

“We have become very competitive wherever we have played this season, and are optimistic we can get a reasonable result at Northampton too.”

For Gannon, that would mean being in the hat for the third-round draw and a potential clash with a Premier League heavyweight.

“To even be in the hat for the third round draw would be a great achievement,” he added.

“We’re one game away from that, we’ve played nine already so hopefully we can make it 10 not out!

“We started this run back in August, so to still be in the competition in December is great for the players.

“Not many non-league clubs are left and it’s nice for us to be flying the flag for our division.

“To get a draw and bring them back to our place would be a huge boost for the club.

“Our game [against Northampton] will be on the BBC Worldwide service, too.

“Three and a half million tuned in to watch Salford City the other day, so it would be nice if we had a few million watching Northwich!”

The Evo-Stik Northern Premier League First Division North leaders have already knocked out higher-ranked opposition on four occasions; a sign of how strong the division is, according to Gannon.

“The Northampton game seems a little way off at the moment as we have lots of league matches to deal with before then,” he explained.

“It’s a very competitive league and we have shown that teams at our level can compete against higher-ranked sides and raise their game.

“To be drawn away from home is tough, but it’s a tie the players are looking forward to. Hopefully they can step up again like they have done en route to the second round.

“We’ve not been fazed away from home this season, so I don’t think we’ll let ourselves down.”