Saints one step from being in the hat again

Saints have featured in the first round proper three times and their two most recent ones have been against Football League clubs.

Three years ago Saints beat Gillingham on a memorable night at St James Park and last season they took Newport County to a replay.

Standing in Saints’ way this time are Beaconsfield SYCOB and Kevin Wilkin’s side will go into Saturday’s fourth qualifying round tie at Holloways Park as firm favourites.

Beaconsfield are third from bottom in the central division of the Evo-Stik Southern League but Wilkin will not be taking the tie lightly.

He said: “To draw a big club in this competition is fantastic and we enjoyed it last season in the two games against Newport County.

“But Saturday’s game is a potential banana skin at Beaconsfield so we’ll be doing everything we can to make sure we avoid an upset.

“If we play to the level we’ve been playing at this season we should have too much for them. But we’ll take nothing for granted as the rewards are the same for both clubs.

“They are two levels below us but sometimes that doesn’t count for anything if you don’t apply yourselves.”