As manager of the only Southern League club still with a 100 per cent record, Darran Foster doesn’t fear an FA Cup run will scupper Daventry Town’s promotion prospects.
“I’m mindful of what happened to Slough Town last season,” said the Communications Park boss. “But small clubs like ours need the extra revenue provided by FA competitions.”
Last winter Slough reached the first round proper of the FA Cup, playing eight times before losing a penalty shoot-out to Mansfield Town, who went on to progress to the third round proper and play Liverpool.
A similar run this time would net any Southern League club almost £30,000.
Prolonged progress in the Red Insure League Cup meant that the Rebels had to play three times a week late in the campaign before missing out on the Division One Central play-offs by a point to Beaconsfield SYCOB.
But Daventry Town are a long way from that!
A lacklustre 1-0 win over South Midlands League minnows Hillingdon Borough in the preliminary round last Saturday was quickly followed by a return to form in the league against Leighton Town on Tuesday night.
Another five-goal bonanza featured a hat-trick from Scott Cross, while the Daventry defence has not conceded a goal in more than six hours of football.
Next up in the FA Cup a week on Saturday will be another South Midlands side, Berkhamsted
But before then, Daventry face their stiffest examination yet this season when travelling to Royston.
This week the Cambridgeshire club surprisingly faced two FA Cup ties against UCL Division One outfit Northampton Spencer, drawing the first 3-3 before winning Tuesday’s replay 3-2.
Foster admitted to being disappointed by the display against Hillingdon which was sandwiched between five-star league performances against both Rugby and Leighton.
Despite six straight wins to kick-off the new season Foster is still looking to strengthen his squad.
“I hope to make a couple of signings with an out-and-out striker the top priority,” said Foster.
Even though Tamworth loan signing Deqwon Ebanks has yet to find his feet, the goals quest looks less urgent as Cross and Ashley Robinson have shared 10 goals up front this term.
Local lad Adam Confue, Ross Oulton and Ryan Howell have all found the net at regular intervals from midfield as the Town have notched up 21 goals already from their first six competitive outings.