Prescot Cables manager Kevin Lynch has discussed his sides FA Cup chances this weekend against Bamber Bridge.
The Pesky Bulls welcome Brig to the Joseph Russell Stadium as they look to book their place in Monday’s draw for the Third Round Qualifying.
Jamie Milligan’s side visit Prescot on Saturday looking to return to winning ways after they were knocked out of the FA Trophy by Stalybridge Celtic in midweek.
The defeat brought an end to their four-match unbeaten run which consisted of a good away win against Guiseley and home wins against FC United of Manchester and Whickham in the FA Cup.
Lynch told Off The Park: “We’re not underestimating Bamber Bridge by any estimation. They’re a good side, got a good manager, it will be tough.
“As I’ve said to everyone, we’re at home and with our fans, I’m sure there will be good support there. Prescot is always a tough place to go, it’s good to pick your wits against higher opposition.
“If any of the lads have got aspirations to play in that position and higher then it’s always good to gage against opposition who are in higher leagues to see if you can meet those standards.
“It’s good, we’re looking forward to it, we’ve got nothing to lose, it’s the FA Cup which we all love. We’ll go in there and give it our best shot.
“You try and assemble a squad, if you’re playing football you don’t play football with any fear you do it for the love of the game.
“Why you do it and you always want to progress as high as you can, further in any competition. I always instil that if you start playing football with fear then you’re in the wrong sport.
“We’ve got to go, enjoy the occasion, come off the pitch with no regrets and if you come off with no regrets, you can’t ask for anymore and that’s what we’ll be doing.”
Liverpool are not in action this weekend and city-rivals Everton are in action on Sunday. A bumper crowd could be in store at Cables and Lynch hopes his side can send them home happy.
“I think the FA Cup brings out the best in fans, they do love the FA Cup and I’m hoping, with the games being off, they’ll come out in their numbers.
“I’m sure Bamber Bridge will be the same, we’re looking forward to it, I’m sure our fans will be right up for it. I hope they are and we can give them something to cheer about.”
Midweek saw Cables book their place in the next round of the FA Trophy as Mitch Allen made a crucial stop in the penalty shootout against Cleethorpes Town.
Jack Goodwin’s wonderstrike handed them the lead but the visitors fought back sending the tie to the lottery of spot-kicks.
Despite squandering their lead, Lynch was pleased with his sides performance and hopes the manner of the victory will have a greater impact.
He continued: “I thought from back to front we was just outstanding. I’d go as far as to say the best performance I’ve seen from us, how we played, how we moved the ball, defensively we look solid.
“Credit to them, when they come off at full-time, they did say you deserved to go through and his words was we ‘bopped them off the park’.
“I think their goalkeeper was on form, we hit the woodwork a few times. Little bit more clinical in the final third would’ve seen us home and dry.
“When you’re always 1-0 up, a set-piece [outdoes you] but at the same time I think it was a blatant foul on the goalkeeper. There was men around him, they got pushed it was a blatant foul on him – it didn’t get given and it resulted in going to pens.
“The things is when it goes to pens it shows character, whether they’ve got the nerve and stuff.
“We scored four great pens, you seen by the celebration at the end it just galvanises the team further, enhances that team spirit that they’ve got. It’s character-building, it is.”
[Featured Image: John Middleton – Prescot Cables]
