Foster gets a boost for cup derby

Daventry Town manager Darran Foster goes into Saturday's FA Cup tie at Long Buckby on the back of two victories

A first victory in the Northern Premier League lifted Daventry off the foot of the Division One South table after they ended Newcastle Town’s unbeaten start with a 3-2 win against a side which reached the play-offs last season.

Two goals from Nabil Shariff and one from Ricky Hill calmed the nerves after opening defeats against Stafford Rangers and Coalville Town. And Town followed up with a 1-0 victory over Chasetown on Tuesday, courtesy of a Shariff penalty.

Foster said: “Just remember, a month ago this club had no manager, no committee, no budget and no players.”

This weekend’s opponents Long Buckby may now operate two levels below the Purple Army but still pose a major threat performing in front of their own supporters.

“We are taking nothing for granted,” added Foster. “But another good FA Cup run would be a godsend in view of the financial upheavals suffered by DTFC almost a year ago.”

In 2013 the Purple Army caused the footballing world to sit up and take notice when pocketing more than £50,000 from a gallant 2-0 first-round proper defeat in front of almost 6,000 spectators at Chesterfield.

Although relegated from the UCL Premier Division for the first time since its inception in the 1970s, the Bucks beat Spartan South Midlands League high-fliers Harefield United in an extra preliminary round replay last week.

The wheels came off in Saturday’s division one clash, though, with a 3-1 home defeat by a Wellingborough Whitworths outfit which had lost its first two matches in the UCL Division One.

The Town ought to have too many guns for their near- neighbours although the number one priority remains the securement of enough points to make sure of retaining their NPL status. With the Foster family and the new committee already boosting revenue from the clubhouse, the quest for a bigger and better first team squad will continue into the autumn.

Foster has put in a seven-day approach for a full-back and is monitoring the progress of a talented central defender who made a big impact in a previous short-lived spell at Communications Park.

Following Saturday’s FA Cup tie, Daventry entertain Carlton Town in Monday’s Northern Premier League clash, 3pm kick-off at Communications Park.