RAIL MEN ON TRACK FOR GLORY

SHILDON stand on the brink of history when they go head-to-head with National League Guiseley next Saturday. For all of the Northern League’s success in the FA Vase, it is 14 years since one of their clubs has made it into the FA Cup first round. Then, Ray Gowan led Shildon past the likes of Durham City, Frickley Athletic and Stocksbridge Park Steels to set up a First Round tie at Notts County, eventually bowing out to a 7-2 defeat at Meadow Lane. Now, the Railwaymen are back to within 90 minutes of a potential glamour tie and playermanager Daniel Moore insisted that his players are fully aware of the history behind them. “It is there for us and we are aware that we were the last club to do it,” he admitted. “We have got to believe we can go there and win, otherwise there is no point in going. “You want to make that first round and we are 90 minutes away. At the end of the day it is a game of football, it’s 11 versus 11 and we will give ourselves the best chance of winning by preparing properly. It’s the FA Cup and we know anything can happen.” This season’s FA Cup has already provided the Railwaymen with some lifelong memories. They saw off one of their Northern League Division One title rivals Morpeth Town in the extra preliminary round with a 2-0 win before putting five past another league rival, Guisborough Town. A single goal helped them past Bottesford Town in the first qualifying round and a late Cameron Fenton goal helped them to one of the greatest FA Cup wins in their history as Altrincham were beaten at Dean Street. That set up a date at Banbury United where an Adam Burnicle brace and a goal from Moore saw off the Evo-Stik Southern side and set up a clash with the Lions. “It will be good to pit ourselves against them,” Moore said. “The pressure isn’t on ourselves again, they’ll be expected to win, just as Banbury United and Altrincham were. “We will be confident within the squad, as we always are. Hopefully we can get a few supporters down there because it’s not as far as Banbury. “On paper it’s a very tough tie, but we will enjoy the day and relish the challenge.”