Football Seagulls out to slay the Dragons in bid for FA Cup glory

WESTON-SUPER-MARE will be looking to pull off a FA Cup shock on Sunday when the Seagulls host National League leaders Wrexham in the first round (12.45pm).

Weston are bottom of National League South, but have improved of late with a 1-0 win at Hungerford and 3-3 draw at Dulwich Hamlet in their last two outings.

Wrexham boss Sam Ricketts, though, has urged his players to “seize the opportunity” against Weston.

This season is the first time since the 2014-15 season that Wrexham have progressed beyond the fourth qualifying round, that term seeing Kevin Wilkin’s men advance to the third round where they ran Premier League side Stoke City close before being eliminated. Wrexham have been synonymous with famous giant killing acts during their his- tory, and while Ricketts insists the league is their priority, he admits that an extended run in the FA Cup would be a welcome distraction for the North Wales club.

However, Ricketts stressed he is not overlooking the challenge of the Seagulls, who are managed by his former Nuneaton Borough team-mate Marc McGregor.

And after scouting Sunday’s opposition, Ricketts said: “If we just turn up expecting to win the game then we won’t, simple as that. The rewards are there for us to win this game and hopefully have a good cup run. I keep stressing to the players, telling them to seize an opportunity.”

He added: “We’ll have the same preparation, we’re not taking anything lightly, training won’t be any easier or different. We will be flat out to go and win this game exactly like we are at every league game.” The Dragons are unbeaten in their last nine outings in league and cup, while the Seagulls, despite being bottom of the National League South, are unbeaten in their last three.

Tickets for the game are still available, priced £12 for adults, £8 concessions and £3 for under-16s. A family ticket (two adults and two under-16s) costs £20.