CURZON Ashton will go into the club’s biggest-ever game a week on Saturday with no fear whatsoever.

Thanks to last weekend’s thrilling 4-3 Tameside derby win against Mossley, Curzon have now made into the fourth and final qualifying round of the FA Cup, and they’ve been drawn to play Blue Square North high-fliers Hinckley United, away.

Should Gary Lowe’s in-form side successfully negotiate that tie, they will then be in the Cup first round proper, where a clash against the likes of Leeds United, Leicester City or neighbours Oldham Athletic could potentially await.

Sensibly, Lowe isn’t getting carried away yet, despite the prospect of a match against a Football League big-gun being so tantalisingly close.

The Curzon boss said: "It’s going to be a tough ask for us at Hinckley first, but we’re not frightened, and that’s before I’ve seen them.

"I’ll be going to watch them on Saturday and on Monday.

"Their stadium and their pitch is first class I hear, so we’ll go there and just give it a real go.

"I’m not particularly concerned about the fact that we’re away from home.

"It would have been better for our fans to have been playing Hinckley at the Tameside Stadium of course, but the pressure will be on them now to get a result at their place.

"I must admit I can’t help thinking about the possibility of making it into the first round proper.

"Drawing somebody like Leeds or Leicester away would secure our future for a long time.

"I can’t wait for the Hinckley game now though, and the lads certainly can’t."

Poacher supreme Mike Norton did the trick for Curzon yet again last weekend as his late winner earned his side another £7,500, taking the winnings from the FA Cup run so far to a whopping £16,500.

A further £12,000 in prize money is up for grabs a week on Saturday.

Although Lowe insists that the League campaign must still take priority, Curzon are currently firmly in the grip of Cup fever.

On Saturday the Blues are away at FC Halifax Town in the UniBond League Challenge Cup, then next Wednesday, October 22, they are away at Glossop North End in the Manchester Premier Cup.

Meanwhile, Droylsden supremo Dave Pace will surely be satisfied with his side’s draw in the FA Cup final qualifying round.

The Bloods’ reward for seeing off Gateshead last weekend is another home tie against Belper Town, also on October 25.

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