Bidding for a place in club history, National League North side Brackley Town will visit Stockport County in the FA Cup second round on Saturday.
While Brackley are looking to reach the third round for the very first time, their hosts have not made it through to that stage for 22 years.
Match preview
![Dave Challinor manager of Stockport County during the Pre-season friendly match Stockport County vs Blackburn Rovers at Edgeley Park Stadium, Stockport, United Kingdom, August 2, 2024 [on August 11, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/32/dave-challinor.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Dave Challinor manager of Stockport County during the Pre-season friendly match Stockport County vs Blackburn Rovers at Edgeley Park Stadium, Stockport, United Kingdom, August 2, 2024 [on August 11, 2024]")
© Imago
Earlier this month, Stockport needed extra time to see off Forest Green Rovers in round one of the FA Cup, with Kyle Wootton's winner ultimately securing progress at Edgeley Park.
As they have not been in the third round draw since 2002, County will now be keen to avoid a slip-up against lower league opponents this weekend, coming into their latest tie on the back of some fine form in League One.
Dave Challinor's side are on a four-game winning streak in England's third tier and moved up to fourth in the table via last week's 3-0 victory at Burton Albion, as they target back-to-back promotions.
Champions of League Two last season, Stockport have claimed 17 of their 30 points on home turf this term and will start Saturday's game as strong favourites.
Knocked out of the FA Cup by Aldershot Town last season, they have not been eliminated from the competition proper by a non-league club in consecutive campaigns since losing to Telford United and Caernarfon Town back in the mid-1980s.
Challinor will be keen to avoid such a fate as the Hatters tackle Brackley Town for the first time in any competition since suffering a 1-0 defeat in the 2018-19 National League North.
Brackley currently occupy eighth place in that division, and are unbeaten in six matches following Tuesday's win at Rushall Olympic, with Miracle Okafor scoring the only goal after just seven minutes.
Now looking to reach the prestigious third round of the FA Cup for the first time, the Northamptonshire club beat Braintree Town on penalties in round one.
They have previously been eliminated at this stage on three occasions, though - most recently, four years ago.
Yet history is not entirely against Gavin Cowan's injury-depleted squad as they head north to Greater Manchester: Brackley have knocked Football League opposition out of the cup twice before, beating Gillingham in both 2013 and 2016.
Team News
© Imago
An integral part of Stockport County's recent success is striker Louie Barry, League One's top scorer with 13 goals in 17 games, including the winner against Wrexham earlier this month and two more at Burton last weekend.
On loan from Aston Villa for the second season running, the 21-year-old could join Kyle Wootton or Isaac Olaofe up front.
The hosts will be without several players due to injury: Tyler Onyango, Nick Powell, Michael Mellon and Kyle Knoyle are all unavailable.
Brackley boss Gavin Cowan is also missing a number of key men, but his options were recently bolstered by the loan signing of Miracle Okafor from Tamworth.
Following his match-winning goal last time out, the Birmingham-born striker should feature again, while winger Justin Donawa - who has just arrived from Altrincham - may also be involved at Edgeley Park.
Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Hinchliffe; Connolly, Horsfall, Pye; Southam-Hales, Norwood, Bate, Rydel; Collar, Wootton, Barry
Brackley Town possible starting lineup:
Maxted; Lowe, Lyttle, Dean, Carline; Craig, Bates, Roberts, Byrne; Hall, Okafor
We say: Stockport County 3-1 Brackley Town
Even if Stockport decide to rotate their squad, prioritising their promotion push over the FA Cup, they should have sufficient depth to see off Brackley's challenge and book a place in the third round.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
