All roads lead to Manchester in the FA Cup

Mark Hearle previews the big FA Cup game between Curzon Ashton and King’s Lynn Town in his latest Your Local Paper Column.All roads lead to Manchester this coming weekend as King’s Lynn Town travels to fellow National League North outfit Curzon Ashton in the fourth and final qualifying round of the FA Cup with the ‘big boys’ of League One and Two awaiting the winners in the first round proper of the world’s most famous knockout football competition.In an added twist of drama, much in keeping with the cup, Adam Lakeland and his assistant Sam Walker return to the club they left just over a year ago to join Lynn as the club’s new management duo.It must be said that, on current league form, it is the hosts who will start Saturday’s game as slight favourites.They have started the season well and sit second in the current league table, just a point shy of leaders Scunthorpe and three points ahead of sixth-placed Lynn with all teams having played ten games to date.The teams have already met this season in a game that saw the hosts win by a 2-0 margin on West Norfolk soil. However, come Saturday the teams will kick-off on equal terms with league points not up for grabs on this occasion. Just maybe with the pressure being on the home outfit, Lynn will be able to play their natural game at a side who are now rightly amongst the league’s big teams, indeed a team who probably now qualify as a big scalp.Progressing as far as you can in the FA Cup has always been a big deal for non-league clubs and it’s no different at The Walks either.Money is of course the major driving force for the man who runs the club Stephen Cleeve and he has been around football long enough to know that a long, and glorious, cup run would be just the tonic for himself, the football club and the overseas investment that is also very much part of the off field structure of King’s Lynn Town now. Of course, I’m no longer privy to the club’s finances and how they look but a top-up of unplanned monies from extra gates, merchandise and broadcast rights from both TV and radio if Lynn does manage to progress another two or three rounds in the competition would be most welcome. I’m sure.For the players though it is a different outlook as they will be keen to progress past Curzon, thus giving themselves the chance to pit their wits against a league team, be that at home or even away, they won’t be bothered I’m sure. Recent seasons show wins on the road at the likes of Port Vale and Doncaster prove that league status and rankings mean nothing on the day if the team applies themselves correctly.I watched Adam Lakeland’s interview following the game last weekend and he was keen to stress that he sees Saturday’s fixture as ‘just another game’ against a team he knows all about. Quite rightly he has received plaudits about the team that he built at Curzon in the past but his, and Sam Walker’s focus, is now his present club, something he was also keen to point out.I’ve said before, that I like both Lakeland’s and Walker’s attitude to management and coaching and their principles on the game, which they have continued with throughout their tenure to date.I know that a small number of supporters haven’t been impressed with Lynn’s performances of late but the facts are that the club have suffered just one defeat in eight in all competitions, which ultimately is all that matters most.The likes of Premier League Manchester City and Liverpool have also not been at their fluent best of late but they have continued to grind out results and win matches when they have to. Saturday is one of the toughest draws the Linnets could have received certainly but it is a game they can most certainly win, or earn a replay at least under The Walks lights next Tuesday evening.Lynn journey to Manchester at the weekend on the back of two gritty home wins that saw them progress in the FA Cup and pick up three important National League North points as well.The cup replay with Worksop Town was finally won just before 10:30pm on Tuesday evening thanks to Josh Coulson’s powerful penalty, giving the home team a 4-3 win following the dreaded spot-kick lottery.Lynn would probably have been disappointed they didn’t get the job done in normal time but, in fairness, both sides had their chances to score which would have meant the extra time and the penalties wouldn’t have been needed.Ross Crane’s dismissal for two yellow card offences was Lynn’s only disappointment on the evening when again they had to show real grit and determination to secure the win. Last Saturday’s 2-1 win over Darlington again demonstrated Lynn’s battling skills as they came from being a goal down to gain maximum points.Personally, I was very pleased to see Tommy Hughes get his name on the scoresheet again after what has probably been a frustrating time for the former Ipswich Town player.Hughes has spent much of his time to date this season on the bench so to start the game and score will have been a major fillip for a player I for one admire greatly.With Sam Walker seemingly out of contention for a few weeks, Hughes will grasp the opportunity to turn in some good performances to cement his place in the team over the coming games. Ross Crane’s winner ten minutes from time saw Tuesday’s villain turn into a hero to round off a successful week for the club.Whoever said football’s a funny old game?