WEYMOUTH boss Andy Mason doesn’t mind whether it’s Jewson Wessex League Fareham Town or Dr Martens Premier Division Crawley in the next round of the AXA-sponsored FA Cup.
The Terras will entertain the winners of tonight’s second qualifying round replay between the two sides, at the Wessex Stadium on Saturday, October 13.
Mason said: “The most important thing was to get a home draw and so from that point of view I’m delighted. People will obviously say that Fareham should be the easier opponents, but if they can get a result at Crawley tonight then they won’t mind coming down here.
“Apparently they had plenty of chances in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Cams Alders and we’re certainly no strangers to them having had many a decent battle in their old Southern League days.
“But Crawley too are a side going well at the moment and who we know very well and so in all honesty I really don’t mind which one we end up playing.”
If Fareham do manage to pull off a shock at the Broadfield Stadium tonight, then Terras fans can look forward to seeing a former England international at the Wessex Stadium – Town’s player-manager is ex-Stoke City, Portsmouth and Brighton winger, Mark Chamberlain.
“It’s going to be tough either way”, admitted Mason, “as it was up at Highworth on Saturday. But we’ve got a real chance now of making good progress in the competition and home advantage can be crucial.”
Meanwhile Terras directors will be rubbing their hands together at the prospect of another bumper pay day for the club.
That 3-0 second qualifying round win over Highworth banked them a cool £7,500, and there’s £10,000 on offer to all third qualifying round winners.
“The stakes get higher round by round”, said Mason, “and now, more than ever before, the FA Cup is vital to all non-League clubs.”
FULL DRAW
Colwyn Bay or Farsley Celtic v Gretna or Brigg Town; Vauxhall Motors v Harrogate Town or Burscough; Durham City or Lancaster City v Ashton United or Stocksbridge Park Steels; Emley v Accrington Stanley; Worksop Town v Gainsborough Trinity; Altrincham v Witton Albion; Barrow v Rossendale United; Whitby Town v Spennymoor United; Runcorn FC Halton v Squires Gate or Bedlington Terriers; Marine v Bradford Park Avenue; Blyth Spartans v Liversedge or Harrogate Railway; Chesham United v Cambridge City; Kings Lynn v Clacton Town; Halesowen Town v Canvey Island; St Margaretsbury v Stafford Rangers; Belper Town v Stowmarket Town; Bedford Town v Hednesford Town; Arnold Town or Burton Albion v Berkhamsted Town; Enfield v Yeading; Hucknall Town v Stourport Swifts; Billericay Town v Grantham Town; Redditch United or Kettering Town v Northwood; Hendon v Hampton & Richmond Borough or Hitchin Town; Bromsgrove Rovers or Tamworth v Wroxham; Aylesbury United v Atherstone United; Chelmsford City v Boreham Wood or Harlow Town; Purfleet v Grays Athletic; Histon v Hinckley United; Maidenhead Utd or Aldershot Town v Sutton United; Basingstoke Town v Bideford; Merthyr Tydfil v Mangotsfield United; Welling United v Newport (IoW); Horsham v Folkestone Invicta; Fisher Athletic or St Leonards v Erith & Belvedere; Andover or Bashley v Swindon Supermarine or Newport County; Croydon Athletic or Dartford v Gravesend & Northfleet; Cirencester Town v Brockenhurst; Croydon v Havant & Waterlooville; Weymouth v Fareham Town or Crawley Town; Lewes or Gosport Borough v Hassocks; St Blazey v Worcester City; Salisbury City or Tiverton Town v Oxford City. Ties to be played Saturday, October 13.
