Goalkeeper Shane Redmond is delighted that he will be back between the sticks for this weekend’s FA Cup with Budweiser First Round clash against Slough Town.
The Irish shot-stopper, who played for Eastwood Town against Kettering Town at the Third Round stage of the competition during the 2008/09 campaign, will start in goal in the absence of cup-tied Liam Mitchell.
Redmond said: “For me, it’s a magic competition. When we got to the Third Round stage with Eastwood, it was a magic experience and it produced a lot of good memories.”
“Against Slough, we’re the favourites really, but they’ll be no favours at all from them. It’s going to be a tough game for us and we will need to be at our best.”
Shane Redmond & Matt Rhead are speaking to Jason Harrison of Mansfield 103.2
Shane Redmond & Matt Rhead are speaking to Jason Harrison of Mansfield 103.2
Redmond added: “Liam Mitchell has done well since he came in, but Notts County won’t let him play in the FA Cup, so it gives me another chance in the team and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Striker Matt Rhead echoed the sentiments of his team-mate.
The 28-year-old, who also featured for the Badgers in the aforementioned Third Round encounter at Rockingham Road, also believes that a cup run may help to kick-start our league season.
Rhead said: “I’ve got a lot of good memories in the FA Cup. At Eastwood, we didn’t get the tie we wanted with Kettering, but it helped to breed confidence around the team.”
“We won promotion later in the same season and hopefully the same can happen here.
“But the Slough game will be tough. They’ll come here wanting to win, so we have to be professional and do a job, just like we did at Workington to make sure we’re in the draw for the Second Round.”
Rhead concluded: “It feels a bit different with having an FA cup game this weekend, but we need to put a run of form together now. With the players that we’ve got in our squad, we all know we should be higher in the league table.”
