WEYMOUTH manager Mark Molesley admitted his side’s FA Trophy second round trip to Ramsbottom United tomorrow (3pm) will be an ‘escape from the league’.
The Terras go into the match second in the league, and able to retake the top spot once again, but Molesley is glad to be without the added pressure.
Molesley said: “We turn our attentions to Ramsbottom, we have a little break from the league now and got a cup game to look forward to, where it’s not a free hit as such, but it is an escape from the league and we can go into that game full of confidence and give that a real go.
“We can go in their full of confidence, we can go in excited and like I said cup games have a different feel about it. There isn’t the added pressure of a league campaign but it is a competition we want to go as far as we can in.”
The Terras progressed to the second round in bizarre circumstances, when their original first-round clash against Needham Market was postponed due to the weather, their opponents then withdrew from the competition when the match was scheduled to be played on the following Tuesday.
Molesley added: “The boys are itching for challenges all of the time, we want to keep pushing these boys, we want to keep wanting more, we want them next challenges all the time.”
They face Evo-Stik Northern Premier Division One West side Ramsbottom, who are currently seventh in the table with 36 points from 21 games so far.
It is only the third time the Terras have progressed through four rounds in the FA Trophy, yet the last time, in 2011/12, saw them lose 6-0 to Alfreton.
Molesley added: “The FA Trophy serves up a great challenge now to have a long travel up to Ramsbottom in what will be a difficult game, people will probably say that we go into that one as slight underdogs, with the travel and playing in their unfamiliar environment.
“But like I said we go there full of confidence and what a prize there could be at the end of it, financial reward for the club, but also a chance to put our wits against another challenge.
“Ramsbottom will present a real tough game for us and one we are looking forward to.”
Brandon Goodship should be available for the match, with Molesley describing his ankle complaint as a ‘light sprain’ which caused the Terras’ striker to miss the 2-1 win over Tiverton Town last time out.
Stephane Zubar returns after serving his suspension.
