AFC Sudbury manager, Mark Morsley, insists that his side have “nothing to lose” when they take on Haringey Borough away in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup in North London this afternoon (kick-off 3pm).
Sudbury are the last Suffolk-based non-league side still in the competition, and they have richly deserved this chance to progress even further following victories over Mildenhall Town, Royston Town and Bognor Regis Town in the three previous rounds.
Morsley’s men played out-of-their-skin to beat higher-ranked Bognor Regis 3-2 in a replay at King’s Marsh last Tuesday week, following a 1-1 draw at Nyewood Lane.
And he is looking forward to a good day out at Coles Park, with more than 100 AFC Sudbury fans set to travel to the capital to support their team – Haringey Borough’s ground is famously situated on White Hart Lane, Tottenham.
“We’ve had a good run. We’ve done OK, and in the last two rounds we have knocked out teams above us in the league pyramid,” enthused Morsley.
“The jewel in the crown was beating Bognor Regis in the replay. We played very well that night and deserved our win.
“In my eyes, we therefore have nothing to lose this weekend, because once again we are playing a team from a higher level.
“We’ve already won £18,000 or so in prize money, despite not being very lucky with the draws, and this is another tough draw against a very good side.
“There is no pressure on us, so we will be able to just go out there and play. I’m really looking forward to it, and we have a lot of fans coming down as well. I think there will be at least 120 Sudbury fans at the game, so it will be a big day for the whole club.
“Haringey play on a 3G pitch as well, so that should be a good leveller. They were the best side we played last season, and they deserved to get promoted (to Bostik Premier via the play-offs).
“We may have lost last weekend, in the FA Trophy (1-0 to Egham), but there weren’t any league points at stake that day, and there wasn’t much money involved. The important thing was that we didn’t pick up any injuries.
“I don’t think Callum Harrison is going to make it, due to his ankle ligament injury, but Phil Kelly and Reece Harris should be fit to start,” added Morsley.
Full-back Baris Altintop is suspended, which might mean a start for youngster Brad Sayer.
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