'GOING BRACK TO MY ROOTS'

BRACKLEY Town manager Gavin Cowan feels his side have “a really good chance” of reaching the FA Cup second round when they take on his old club Braintree Town.

- Matthew Nash

Cowan’s men saw off National League Hartlepool 3-1 in their fourth qualifying round replay at St James Park on Tuesday night to set up a clash with the newly-promoted Iron, another Step 1 outfit, in round one on November 2.

It will be another mouthwatering challenge for Cowan, 43, whose roots are in Colchester and who expects to have plenty of familiar faces in the crowd when Angelo Harrop’s side visit next month.

“It’s my old club and I was there for four years. We’ll have to be on our mettle,” said the former AFC Telford defender. “Angelo has done a good job getting them promoted, they will be a hard-working team.