It’s Viva Las Vegas for three Market Drayton Town players on Saturday – and a trip to the bright lights that will rule them of their re-arranged FA Vase tie.

Defender Paul Bowyer is Nevada-bound for a trip-of-a-lifetime stag do in the casino capital of the world, and team goalkeeper Andy Pryce is also going along for the ride.

In a bizarre twist of fate, midfielder James Carvery will also be in Las Vegas – though on a different stag party.

The timing is unfortunate for Drayton, though it is the British weather that has really cost them dear as all three would have been available last Saturday when the trip to Biggleswade in the last 16 was postponed due to snow.

“We were all set up to go last Saturday so it was a bit disappointing,” said Bowyer, 29, who is a design technology teacher at a school in Winsford.

“The good thing is that we’ve got lots of people in the squad and it’s worked on a rotational basis so, whoever plays, we’ve still got a great chance.

“The gaffer (Simon Line) did jokingly suggest on Saturday we put off our flights until Sunday but that won’t be happening because it’s all booked and there’s 14 of us going in total.”

Should Drayton come through the match without their trio of absent stars, they would then have to travel to either Stratford or Whitley Bay in the last eight.

That would set them on course for some rather different bright lights – those of the famous arch at Wembley Stadium, the venue for the final of the prestigious non-League competition.

But the stakes will be higher for the north Shropshire side if they were then to make the semi-finals – as Bowyer and Pryce would be missing once again.

“The second leg of the semi-finals is on April 4 and that’s the date me and Jen are getting married,” Bowyer revealed.

“Prycey is the usher so he’d be missing the game too, but the rest of the lads would only be coming to the evening do.

“It would be the ultimate day for me to be getting married to Jen and for us to get to Wembley as well.

“The date of the final’s already pencilled in the diary so there’s no way I’d be missing that one!” he added.

By CHRIS HUDSON