King's Lynn boss wary of minnows Ashington in FA Cup clash
King’s Lynn Town manager Tommy Widdrington is not underestimating the importance of tomorrow’s Fourth Qualifying Round FA Cup tie against Ashington at the Walks.
The Linnets, who have reduced ticket prices to just £10 and £1 in an effort to attract a bumper crowd to the game, are just 90 minutes from the possibility of locking horns against a side from the Football League.
Ninth tier Ashington are one of the lowest ranked teams still left in the competition and have already accounted for three higher-ranked side to get this far.
The Northumberland-based ‘town team’ firmly believe they can add Lynn to their list of scalps and Widdrington, who is a North-East native himself, is taking nothing for granted.
“We won’t be taken them lightly that’s for sure,” he said.
“They are made of stern stuff up there and two of the best footballers this country has ever produced come from that village.
“This is why the FA Cup competition is regarded as the best cup competition in the world because Ashington can beat us and they can pull out Ipswich in front of 30,000 people next week which would change their world.
“From that point of view it’s a cup final for them and also a cup final for us. We don’t get to play in front of 20 or 30,000 people every week either and I’d love my lads to experience that.”
Ashington have already accounted for Newton Aycliffe, Tow Law Town, Ashton United and Bradford Park Avenue to reach this stage of the competition and that fact hasn’t been lost on Lynn’s boss.
“They’ve got experienced players all over the pitch,” he said.
“Most of them have played at the level we’re at because Newcastle and the area is steeped in football and nearly everybody plays and they’ve made a hell of a start to the season.”
One player Widdrington knows well is Robbie Dale, who Lynn have come up against in the past for Blyth Spartans.
“Robbie is my best mate’s brothers friend weirdly and let’s hope he doesn’t do what he normally does and that’s score goals,” he said.
Ashington’s left-sided defender Luke Salmon believes the Colliers can pull off an almighty shock.
Salmon, who has scored in consecutive league matches for the northern outfit, told the club’s website: “We’ll go into the clash with confidence.
“We’ve been underdogs three times against Ashton United, Bradford Park Avenue and Stocksbridge Park Steels but we’ve gone into each game thinking – and believing – that we could win.
“I know they (Kings Lynn) are top of their league but we are also flying and we’ve got a class team so anything can happen.”
Family members of Linnets legend Malcolm Lindsay will be special guests at tomorrow’s tie.
Lindsay was born in Ashington and indeed played for the ‘Colliers’ for a time before becoming a legendary figure at The Walks with his scoring exploits.
Of Lindsay’s 321 goals for Lynn (first team and reserves), 25 were scored in the FA Cup – four coming in the 9-0 thrashing of Parson Drove 1974.
Two years later and Lynn met Drove again winning just 3-2 with Malcolm scoring twice.
Three years after that Drove visited The Walks and caused an almighty upset by securing a 1-0 win.
Winners of the tie will receive £9,375 while losing clubs will pick up £3,125.
