DREAMCHASERS Chippenham Town will throw their all into joining the likes of Swindon Town, Bristol Rovers and Oxford United in the first round proper of the country’s most famous cup competition.
This Saturday, Mark Collier’s Bluebirds go looking to match their best-ever runs in the FA Cup – they reached the first round in 1951 and 2005 – when they tackle the challenge of in-form National League South outfit Maidstone Town at Hardenhuish Park.
Kent side Maidstone, who are currently fourth in the division above Chippenham, head into this weekend’s fourth qualifying round tie in fearsome fettle, having not conceded a goal in their last six league matches.
Bluebirds boss Collier is no stranger to upsetting the odds in the FA Cup, however.
In November 2010, the Hardenhuish Park chief took Swindon Supermarine all the way to the second round proper, where after beating the likes of Weymouth, Hungerford Town and Bath City, they took on League One Colchester United at the Colchester Community Stadium, only losing 1-0.
“Getting to the first round proper is an amazing achievement,” said the Chippenham manager.
“You always dream of getting an incredible tie against someone like Swindon Town or Bristol Rovers.
“We’ve got a very difficult game to try and get through but come five o’clock on Saturday, there will have been shocks in the FA Cup and hopefully we will have provided one of them.
“We’re going to chase our dream to the limit – that’s our aim and our ambition.
“In a lot of ways, it’s a no pressure game on Saturday because we’re the underdogs. I’ve had reports on Maidstone and they’re a side that pride themselves on their defensive solidity.
“They’ve not conceded in their last six games in the league but we have to believe that we can cause an upset this weekend.”
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