(Picture: Ian Morsman)
By Jon Couch
SCOTT RENDELL accepts Aldershot Town will need to stage an almighty FA Cup upset if they are to become only the second team to topple Shrewsbury Town this season – but he reckons there are no better candidates to give it a shot!
The Shots pulled out, arguably, the toughest possible draw in the first round hat when they were handed a trip to the high-flying League One leaders – the only unbeaten side in the EFL before last weekend's loss at Peterborough.
But the National League promotion chasers are no strangers to producing the odd cup upset in recent years having seen off Hampshire rivals Portsmouth in 2014, while a famous victory at West Ham's old Upton Park in 2011 ultimately handed them a dream visit of Manchester United in the Carling Cup.
Rendell himself has a place in FA Cup folklore having scored the only goal in Luton Town's shock victory at Norwich City in 2013 which, prior to Lincoln City's win over Burnley last season, was the last time a Non-League side put out a team from the top-flight.
And the 31-year-old, who has scored in each of his last three games for Aldershot before yesterday's trip to Barrow, believes he and Gary Waddock's side are ready to re-write the record books.
“It's a tough draw, no doubt about it,” admitted the free-scoring striker. “Shrewsbury are currently the highest-ranked team in the competition and have lost just one game all season, so we've got nothing to lose really. We have been given a free shot and we will go there with no fear.
“Yes, we'll need a bit of luck along the way, but a good few of us have played in enough FA Cup games to know it can happen. Scoring that goal for Luton at Norwich was a special moment in my career, as was beating Wolves in the previous round.
“As a club we will not be fazed either. It's been to places like West Ham, Middlesbrough and Portsmouth in cup competitions in recent years and fared well each time.
“Big FA Cup games are always a special occasion for a club like this so we're all really looking forward to it.”
Despite the potential big prize on offer at the New Meadow on Saturday, Rendell is not is taking any focus away from the ultimate goal – promotion back to the Football League after six seasons back in the Non-League ranks.
Waddock's side were unbeaten in four matches before last Sunday – a run which has seen last year's play-off semi-finalists remain very much in the promotion mix.
And with 11 clubs separated by just six points in the top half, Rendell believes it's all up for grabs.
“I've been in and around the National League for many years and I've never known a year like it,” he added. “Usually there's one or two big guns running away with it, but no-one has really stood out yet this year, it's wide open.
“We consider ourselves to be one of those teams with a chance and yet we are not firing on all cylinders yet.
“If we can get our act together and go on a little run like we did at the back end of last season, then there's no reason why we can't be that team to push on.”
*This article originally featured in The @NonLeaguePaper, which is available every Sunday.
