ANOTHER cup competition, and another higher league opponent for the ever-improving Worcester City to pit their wits against.
On Saturday it is FC Halifax Town who will attempt to put paid to the Blue and Whites impressive 14-game unbeaten run.
It may not be the glamour of the Ricoh Arena or the anticipation of Glanford Park, but it is once more an opportunity for Carl Heeley’s side to raise their profiles in the game.
If they haven’t been noticed so far – which would be remarkable considering their FA Cup exploits – then welcoming the Conference Premier play-off contenders to Aggborough certainly is another good way to put a strong marker down.
Worcester have only lost once at home this calendar year, against now Conference Premier side AFC Telford, and how dearly they would love to keep it that way until the end of 2014 – particularly with the Scunthorpe replay being shown live on the BT sport cameras on Wednesday.
They say that lightning never strikes twice, and with City as huge underdogs for the trip to the Iron some had already cashed their bets in on victory for Mark Robins’ side. How wrong they were.
Yet another gritty, determined and all-round superb performance showed the quality and confidence which really can come from the Conference North, the sixth tier of English football.
Heeley will have one eye on Wednesday’s replay ahead of Saturday’s game but he will also know the way his team are playing they can genuinely harbour realistic ambitions to go far in the FA Trophy.
The weekend fixture won’t be easy for Worcester, Halifax are just a place out of the Conference Premier play-offs and have won back-to-back league games, but the way City are playing at the moment they are more than a match for anyone.
Long may the run continue.