AFC Telford boss Liam Watson fired up to avoid FA Cup shock
AFC Telford boss Liam Watson insists his team must not become another FA Cup giant-killing story when they visit lower league Spennymoor Town at the end of the month.
The Bucks, who are currently bottom of the Vanarama Conference, were paired with the newly-promoted Evo-Stik First Division North outfit in the fourth qualifying round draw.
Watson's side will be expected to progress to the first round proper on October 25 against a side plying its trade three divisions below them.
But the Telford chief knows their opponents will be keen to claim a higher league scalp.
And he said: "If we are right and we perform it is a tie where we should be confident of progressing. But the FA Cup has shocks in it and we have got to make sure we are not one of them.
"This year the FA Cup and the FA Trophy were always going to be important but we have got to be on our game."
Watson is familiar with Spennymoor, having defeated them in the same competition with Southport in 2009.
And he will be travelling to Lancaster City tonight to take a fresh look at their team in league action.
He said: "Spennymoor have done well over the last couple of years. I know their manager Jason Ainsley quite well.
"I came across them a couple of years ago with Southport in the FA Cup. I know they are ambitious and I will be going to watch them at Lancaster tonight."
Asked if he thought the tie was a dangerous one for his team given their current league woes, he added: "I wouldn't look at things like that.
"I think the big thing is that we need to look at it as a one-off tie between two teams going head-to-head and the vital thing is we need to get through."
