AFC Telford United preview: Kevin Wilkin's men are up for the cup against Worksop

Kevin Wilkin has vowed to treat the FA Cup with the utmost respect ahead of Telford’s second qualifying round tie against Worksop Town this weekend.

After an up-and-down start to the National League North season the Bucks turn their attention to the historic competition, and back to an opponent they have already locked horns with this term.

Telford fell to a 2-1 defeat on the 3g surface at Sandy Lane last month, but Wilkin’s side, buoyed by seven points and three clean sheets from their last three games, are feeling confident as they prepare to welcome the Tigers to the SEAH Stadium.

“It’s an opportunity for us to build on what we’ve already done, and measure ourselves against the team we were a month ago,” the Bucks boss said. “We were still finding our feet then to a large extent and it didn’t quite happen for us at their place for whatever reason.

“I think we definitely could have got something out of the game even though we didn’t play as well as we can, and we definitely found their 3g surface a bit of a challenge, as we generally do.

“Definitely the game being played at our ground on our wonderful surface fills us with a lot of confidence. We’re not quite as expansive a team as we were last season, and probably not as easy on the eye, but it’s made us much more competitive in games, we’ve kept three clean sheets and won two games, so it’s all about fine margins.

“We know we’ve got to try and turn it into a fortress and make sure it is a difficult place for teams to come and play, and we’re certainly confident off the back of a good win there against Oxford last week too.”

Last season’s run to the first round proper was Telford’s best run in the FA Cup since 2017, something Wilkin took pride in alongside decent progression in the FA Trophy and a top half finish at the first time of asking back in step two.

The competition still offers up magical moments, especially for lower league sides, as demonstrated by fellow National League North side Macclesfield last season, and the Bucks boss admitted those stories fill him with optimism and determination to make more memories with the club.

“It’s a fantastic competition, and without doubt the most lucrative competition for us to play in,” he said. “We want to do well in it for all sorts of reasons, and the players know that if they do well in it they will get that bit more coverage and publicity.

“It is a bit of a change of direction from the league campaign and that’s exciting. Everybody loves the FA Cup and we want to try and have a good run in it and create some excitement come kick off time.”

Wilkin confirmed that Brandon Hall will continue in goal following a ‘potentially serious’ knee injury to Wolves loanee Lewys Benjamin. Jamie Meddows is also side-lined.