By Jon Couch
TRANMERE Rovers and Woking will be looking to ensure there is at least one Non-League representative in the FA Cup third round when they take on League One opponents in their respective first-round replays tonight (Tuesday).
Rovers host promotion chasers Peterborough United, while Woking make the trip to strugglers Bury with a potential all-National League clash on offer in round two.
After a sticky start to their league campaign, Micky Mellon's Rovers are beginning to show the kind of form which established them as firm favourites to make a return to the Football League after going down to Forest Green Rovers in last season's play-off final.
But Mellon has question marks over a couple of his first-team players which picked up knocks in Saturday's 2-0 win over Dagenham and Redbridge and says he may have to make a couple of last-minute decisions in picking his team for the clash at Prenton Park, shown live on BT Sport.
“We always look at the opposition and what we can do with the personnel that we have in order to try and create them problems and nullify their threats,” said Mellon, whose side earned a 1-1 draw at London Road in the initial tie 10 days ago.
“We like the team to be adaptable and be able to answer whatever questions the game asks of them.
“Cup games are important because there is a lot of nationwide interest in them and it's on TV, so that only goes to increase the club's profile and is an opportunity to show that Tranmere are fighting back.
“In the first game, I think both teams played very well and it made for a very good cup tie. Peterborough gave us the respect we deserve, they have a good team with a good manager who will organise them really well.
“It should make for a really good game and we're looking forward to it. We know that we're going to need to be at our best to get a result from this game, so I'm looking no further than this game and giving a good account of ourselves.”
Woking, meanwhile, will be hoping to make it second time lucky when they take on a managerless Bury side, who scored inside 42 seconds of the initial clash at Kingfield last Sunday, only to cling on for a 1-1 draw.
The Cards have picked up just one point from a possible 12 – a 0-0 draw at FC Halifax on Saturday – but boss Anthony Limbrick will be hoping his side can hit form at the right time at Gigg Lane on Tuesday against a Shakers side without a win in five.
Also looking to book their place in round two is Guiseley, who will be looking to complete the job after being held to a 0-0 draw by League Two Accrington Stanley last Sunday.
Goalkeeper Jonny Maxted saved two penalties as 10-man Guiseley were edged out in the last-minute by Bromley on Saturday and reckons Paul Cox's men can cause an upset with another League Two side, Mansfield Town, awaiting the winners.
“We're feeling very confident,” he told BBC Radio Leeds. “In the home leg, their keeper played a blinder and on another day we would've won that three or 4-0.
