Dave Morgan's side have made a disastrous start to the new UniBond League First Division North campaign, picking up just one point from their first four matches.

But Morgan's men switch their attentions to the FA Cup tomorrow – and a preliminary round trip to Dunston Federation Brewery – and no club in the land captures the magic of the world's most famous knockout competition quite like Harrogate Railway.

The Station View outfit have defied the odds not once but twice in the last six years to reach the second round proper, the last time being last season when they were edged 3-2 at home by Mansfield under the national spotlight of the live television glare.

Morgan, who took over as manager from Vince Brockie after last season's success, said: "The club have done it twice in six years and hopefully we can make it three times in seven. You never know, stranger things have happened.

"But we certainly will be going to Dunston to win, and if we manage that we will have a trip to Whitby in the next round.


"We will go there with confidence, even though our league form has suffered. This is a different competition and the lads can relax a bit.

"They are not under any pressure to take points, though they are under pressure from us.

"And if we can get a win up there we can then build on that."

A major cause for concern for Railway has been the number of late goals they are conceding, with strikes in the last two minutes having turned two potential draws into defeats and a potential victory into a draw.

Morgan has gone some way to addressing that by snapping up former Doncaster Rovers trainee goalkeeper Lee Williams, who will make his debut tomorrow.

He is also hoping to add former Bradford Park Avenue and Farsley full-back Stephen Ball to his ranks, as well as re-signing striker Danny Forrest who left the club for Thackley last season.

Morgan said: "The start has been very disappointing really and it is causing a bit of concern, especially with the amount of goals we are conceding in the last minute.

"But one or two signings are imminent to try and rectify that."

In the pick of tomorrow's other ties, FC Halifax Town host Silsden.