Banbury United manager Andy Whing is ready to put his side’s 19-match unbeaten run to the test against Barrow tomorrow.
Whing says the United players couldn’t be in better shape, both body and mind, for the FA Cup first-round tie which has the potential for an upset.
And as excitement mounts for supporters and everyone involved at the club, Andy Whing has had no trouble keeping his players focused on the job at hand.
Speaking to his local newspaper the Banbury Guardian, Whing said: “Obviously it’s a really big week for us and everyone is really looking forward to it.
“To be fair to the lads they’ve been absolutely brilliant. We’ve always concentrated on one game at a time, that’s how we’ve kept the unbeaten run going.”
United made it 18 games unbeaten since the start of the season when they won 1-0 at Corby in the third qualifying round of the Buildbase FA Trophy on Saturday when it needed some outstanding work by goalkeeper Ben Taylor.
And on Tuesday evening in the Southern League Challenge Cup against Thame United, a 4-2 win extended their club-record run to 19 games unbeaten.
Banbury included several trialists and development team players for that game and had actually conceded the first goal before bouncing back.
Whing said: “We’ve stayed focused on the task in hand which is always the next game, that’s how we keep playing it.
“Some of the lads have been on TV before as we had cameras here for our Canvey Island game last year.
“We have a really young squad, but they played in front of 1,500 here for the Bath City game (when Banbury won 1-0 in the last round) so it shouldn’t affect them. They’re just really looking forward to it.”
The tie (kick-off 5.15pm) at the Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium is being shown live on ITV 4 and will have a sellout crowd of 2,400.
“Last year we couldn’t have fans to watch when we reached the first round proper for the first time in nearly 50 years, which was a crying shame.
“To be able to do it this year as well and for the fans to be able to share it this time, it will be an unbelievable atmosphere,” says the manager.
But Whing is expecting a really tough game and he has every respect for the opposition and the manager.
He said: “It will be a really tough game for us. They are three leagues higher, have a really good manager and have done really well getting promoted back into the Football League.
“They are always dangerous going forward, we’ve had them watched and watched videos of them.
“But you never know. This is FA Cup football, that’s why the cameras will be here. There’s always upset potential.
“They are a really good team, but we will give it our best shot.”
Barrow boss Mark Cooper is set to be without Jamie Devitt for this weekend’s game after the attacking midfielder picked up a calf injury during training.
However, forward Offrande Zanzala is expected to return to the Bluebirds squad following illness and Jordan Stevens is set to be declared fit after missing the defeat to Rochdale with an ankle problem.
Matt Platt came off the bench against Dale after shaking off a troublesome back injury and will be in the manager’s thoughts for a start but Tom Beadling (knee) and Mike Jones (Achilles) are still not ready for a return.
Horsham supporters have been encouraged to “drink in the experience as it will go around in a flash.”
