FA Cup preview: Buxton can fizz on big stage!

By Matt Badcock

CHELTENHAM TOWN v BUXTON

Saturday December 6, Kick-off: 3pm

Buxton boss John McGrath believes Cheltenham Town will provide the ideal barometer of the club’s rapid progress – but says that shouldn’t be confused with just being happy to take part.

The National League North Bucks knocked out Step 3 Chatham Town last time out to reach the FA Cup second round proper.

Connor Kirby’s extra-time winner only went to highlight the talent McGrath has at his disposal.

And while no one needs telling the prize that is on offer if they can reach the third round, McGrath says it’s an opportunity to make headlines among the wider football fraternity.

Ambition

“It has a different feel to the first round,” McGrath, whose side finished in the National League North play-offs last season and are determined to be in the mix again this year, told The NLP.

“I’ve always wanted to pit my lads against, and see where we are, in relation with Football League clubs.

“Cheltenham have changed manager in the last month or so, they’ve galvanised a little bit and picked up results.

“We’ve got a really young squad. It’s a squad that wants to go and play higher up the football pyramid. And what better opportunity to showcase your talents in the FA Cup next Saturday.”

Not that McGrath’s players will be approaching with anything other than a determination to win the tie.

“Obviously we want to showcase what we’re about as a football club, we want to showcase how good the National League North is,” McGrath added.

“The players want to showcase themselves individually, I want to showcase myself as a manager.

“But it’s not simply just about that. We’re going down there to win a game of football, make no bones about it.

We will treat that as a normal day. It’s not a day out and the result doesn’t matter. It’s a game we want to win and progress.”

Dangerous

Cheltenham have moved out of the drop zone since the arrival of Steve Cotterill, who guided Forest Green Rovers to the National League play-off semi-finals last season before being dumped at The New Lawn for Robbie Savage.

The wily boss will no doubt know their Non-League opposition will be a dangerous prospect.

And McGrath himself says they will go to Gloucestershire ready to back their ability.

“We’ve got a good group of young players playing good football,” he added.

“I am quietly confident in my boys. For Cheltenham, drawing a full-time Conference North club, they could have had a better draw. We will go all-out to beat them.”