SWALES WANTS ‘BEST EVER’ RCA TO DREAM OF WEMBLEY
NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL
Sunderland RCA manager Martin Swales is in bullish mood ahead of their FA Vase Second Round tie at North West Counties League club Garstang.
The Meadow Park club have been in fine form this season and currently sit in second place in the Northern League Division One table.
The Vase offers them a break from a hectic start to the season and Swales is keen to make an impact in a competition that has never been won by a club from Wearside.
But the RCA manager believes that he is working with the “strongest squad the club has ever had” and is confident that they can go far in the Vase.
“This isn’t just about the eleven on the pitch, it’s about the sixteen in the squad,” explained Swales.
“We have the strongest squad the club has ever had. We have game-changers all over the park and we haven’t had that in the past.
“It leaves me with some tough decisions to make, but you want that as a manager.
“A win on Saturday and we are only five wins away from Wembley.
“We will be telling the lads to focus on Garstang, but we also want them to dream about what could be ahead and believe that they can do it.”
RCA will be backed by an impressive band of travelling support for the trip to the North West.
Swales expressed his delight at knowing that his players will be roared on by over 100 supporters and now wants to repay their faith by securing a place in Monday’s Third Round draw. “It’s a big boost for us knowing that we will have a good support at the game and it means a lot to the players, to the coaching staff and to the club,” Swales said. “We can’t thank the supporters enough and we want to repay them by putting on a good performance and getting a win for them.”
Swales will hand late fitness tests to Ross Preston and Colin Larkin ahead of the trip to Lancashire.
Elsewhere in the Vase, Hebburn Town are without Andrew Stephenson and Dan Groves for their away tie at Hallam FC.
Shildon manager Daniel Moore has been handed a major boost ahead of their tie at Barton Town after winger Billy Greulich-Smith revealed he is available for selection once again.
West Auckland Town defender Danny Parker has been ruled out of their trip to Thackley.
The former Blyth Spartans and Bishop Auckland centre-back picked up a knee injury in the early-stages of last Saturday’s away win at North Shields.
Parker is just one of a number of West players that will miss the game as Gary Forrest is also without Anthony Bell, Alex Francis and Michael McKeown.
Dunston UTS travel to Lincolnshire to face Winterton Rangers, Newcastle Benfield entertain 1874 Northwich, Bedlington Terriers are in West Yorkshire to face Silsden and Ashington travel to Stockton Town.