GERRY Luczka has targeted the FA Cup first round as a realistic ambition as he prepares his Radcliffe Borough side for their tie at Workington Town on Saturday.
Boro have never been further than the first round — they were beaten 4-1 by York City at Gigg Lane in 2000 — but, having already reached the third qualifying round, they are now only two matches away from repeating the feat.
If they win in west Cumbria, they will add another £7,500 to the club coffers on top of the £4,500 they banked following the 3-1 second qualifying round replay win over Warrington Town at Stainton Park.
That was followed by a pulsating 6-3 FA Trophy preliminary round win over Derbyshire side Mickleover Sports on Saturday in which returning striker Jody Banim, Tom Brooks and winger Eddie Stanford bagged two goals apiece.
“There is a massive incentive for us to get through to the first round proper,” said Luczka, the Boro director of football. “It would be a fantastic boost for the club. Workington is an exciting game for us and we are looking forward to the trip up there.
“The buzz of the FA Cup is really beginning to take hold now. We are aiming to get to the fourth qualifier and then hopefully the first round.”
Luczka reckons his squad have the firepower to send Boro through against the Blue Square North side.
“It was great to see goals coming from other areas of the field on Saturday in the game against Mickleover. Stanford and Brooks from midfield scored four of our goals between them.”
Meanwhile, Luczka is counting on the fitness of striker Steve Howson who was withdrawn at half time in the Mickleover match after tweaking a hamstring — a precautionary move with Radcliffe already 5-1 up.
Luczka said: “We didn’t want to take a chance with Steve. He’s extremely resilient and we expect him to be fit for Saturday.”
Mark Jones, who has been sidelined after suffering minor injuries in a car accident, is also expected to be available, as is Martyn Forrest, whose impressed in the Mickleover win.
Left back Stephen Hill, who suffered a knock on Saturday, is also expected to make the trip, and Luczka’s squad are all hungry to play.
“Wins create confidence,” he added. “We had a great win against Warrington Town, and we’ve had a great win against Mickleover despite going a goal down. We replied emphatically.
“The lads have done fabulously now, but the club would be absolutely cock-a-hoop if we could get a victory on Saturday. Apart from the financial standpoint, every footballer’s ambition is to progress as far as they possibly can in the FA Cup.”
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