‘Playing at home should help us’ – Stowmarket Town boss Andrews

Action from Saturday's goalless draw at Swaffham Town, as home captain Alex Vincent tries to make progress against Stowmarket defenders. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

The winners of this tie will face an away game, at either Tring Athletic or Biggleswade, in a fourth round match on January 5, 2019.

But before Rick Andrews’ men can contemplate such a match, they must see off a Swaffham side who delivered a strong display in Saturday’s entertaining 0-0 draw at Shoemakers Lane.

“We had the chances to win it on the day, and we should really have won it, but I certainly don’t begrudge Swaffham the draw,” said Stowmarket manager Andrews.

“It was a full-blooded cup tie, a real blood-and-thunder encounter, and one of the most entertaining 0-0 draws that people will have ever watched, I’m sure.

“On another day, we would have taken one of our chances to get through, but at least we can now look forward to a replay in front of our own fans.

“We didn’t pick up any knocks from Saturday, and we could even have one back in the squad, because Ollie Canfer is close to a return. He will have a fitness test on his hamstring injury.

“I see that Swaffham had a few players hobbling around at the end, and they had a guy (Danny Tindall) sent off who will probably be out suspended.

“Playing at home should help us, on our good pitch.”

Stowmarket and Swaffham are the two remaining Norfolk and Suffolk sides in the competition, with the Old Gold and Blacks hoping to equal the club’s best run in the FA Vase with a victory tonight, matching the achievements of 1982-83.

The winners of tonight’s replay will be away at either Hertfordshire side Tring Athletic, of the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division, or Bedfordshire club Biggleswade.

“The games obviously become more difficult, the more we progress in the competition, facing teams from a higher league, but we must focus on the replay first,” added Andrews.