We’ll give it everything

Sep 11 2008 by Philip Kirkbride, Skelmersdale Advertiser

We’ll give it everything

SKELMERSDALE United manager Tommy Lawson has admitted that he is no different to everyone else as he too dreams of an FA Cup run.

United travel to Frickley Athletic’s Westfield Lane on Saturday in the first qualifying round of the world’s most famous domestic competition.

For a number of Skem’s young squad, the weekend will provide their first experience of playing in the cup and Lawson is confident the excitement can propel them to victory.

Having comfortably avoided an upset in a preliminary qualifying fixture at Newcastle Town two weeks ago, United now face a tough test at UniBond Premier Division Frickley.

Lawson said: “Every year someone emerges and everybody dreams.

“It is always good to say that you are playing in the FA Cup and the lads are well aware of the importance of it.

“It is about the money that a run can bring to a club like ours but also about the excitement of being involved in something that later on in the year you can see on the telly and say ‘I played in that’.

“It will be the first taste of the FA Cup for a few of our lads so there is great excitement there.

“We are looking forward to pitting our wits against UniBond Premier opposition again and Frickley are a big strong side, which is what you expect from that division. Having watched them play and visited the ground, it is clear that we are going to have to overcome the set-up there.

“The pitch doesn’t really welcome you but if we have our best 11 out there, then there is no reason why we can’t come away with a result.”

However, Lawson’s plans to field his strongest possible line-up may well have been hampered by the bruising 3-3 encounter with Garforth on Saturday.

Two Skem players, Adam Birchall and Aaron Turner, were carried off after challenges that angered the boss.

Lawson added: “We had two players carried off on Saturday - some of Garforth’s play was malicious.

“The referee had a good game apart from one major decision when Adam Birchall was fouled in what was a sending off offence. Their lad went onto to score two goals and we lost Adam.

“Aaron Turner has an ankle problem after on of the Garforth lads came in with two feet.”

The fitness of Adam Wade, Paul Prescott and Chris Almond will be assessed at tonight’s training session.

Meanwhile, Steve Akrigg has been given a boost as he goes in for keyhole surgery on his injured shoulder as the club have extended his current contract.