FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
Craig Rouse admits Pontefract Collieries face a battle today if they want to take the first step towards repeating last season’s unforgettable FA Cup adventure.
The Colls went all the way to an epic fourth qualifying round replay against National League side FC Halifax Town last October.
Standing in their way of a place in this season’s preliminary round is Paul Marshall’s Garforth Town and Rouse has warned anyone expecting a similar run to last year that the trip to East Leeds is a tricky one.
“You have to manage expectations,” Rouse told Non League Yorkshire.
“It was the first time the club went anywhere near (the first round) last year and we’re coming in at an earlier round than last year so we have that to contend with.
“In all honesty, I look at some of the draws we had last year and Garforth away is tougher than some of them.
“The winner has to go to Stockton which is a really tough test as they were play-offs finalists in our league last year.
“We’ll manage expectations but there’s always a fairytale story in the FA Cup and we were almost part of that last year and we want to replicate it.
“It is a tough local derby and you only have to look at where Garforth finished last year.
“Obviously Marshy has done a good job and he always plays a certain way and gets his players onside.
“We know we’re up against it but we’ll go there and if we put a performance on we’re confident we’ll come through the tie.”