A TRIO of Tadcaster Albion top-men will be more determined than most to cause a major FA Cup upset tomorrow, when their side travel to Ossett Town, writes Peter Martini.
Manager Wayne Day was boss at Town for two years in the mid-1990s and with him at Ingfield during that time were current Taddy captain Lee Maguire and team-mate Mally Bolland.
"It's a return to an old stomping ground for us and obviously we'll want to do well," said Day.
"Everyone expects us to lose, possibly including Ossett Town themselves, and that might help us pull off a surprise.
"We are certainly looking forward to it and are not daunted at all."
Moneybags Ossett have a 100 per cent record so far in UniBond League division one and to prove their rich-kids status have just signed former Hull City striker Lee Bracey, while Taddy lie mid-table in the Northern Counties East League lower tier.
"They have invested heavily and just about every player they've got has played in the Football League," said Day.
"They have lots of experience and it's going to be very tough for us, but having said that in our pre-season we performed really well against Guiseley and Ossett Albion (both UL division one teams) and York City. I doubt it will be any tougher than that.
"It is a David v Goliath clash but we've got nothing to lose. We're hoping it will be the first upset of this year's FA Cup."
Day has a defensive dilemma, however, as five centre-backs are all unavailable. Goalkeeper Lee Adamson is still struggling with a back injury so Andy Phillips stays in net, while summer signing Chris Bolland will join twin Mally in the line-up.
UniBond League club Harrogate Town face a potential banana skin at Northern League outfit West Auckland Town.
Boss John Reed: "Nobody has a divine right to win any game. We're in a higher standard of football and people will think we should win but you only win a game if you approach it right and do it right on the park."
West Auckland have won their three league games so far this season and are expected to battle tooth and nail to cause a surprise.
"I know a lot about them and if our lads aren't up for a massive fight it could be a shock," said Reed, who has doubts over Mike McNaughton (back) and Ian Blackstone (ankle) but has Kevin Severn back after unavailability and also adds Iain Dunn to the squad.
Updated: 12:25 Friday, August 31, 2001
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