AFC FYLDE boss Dave Challinor says he is “excited” despite seeing his side drawn away at Gateshead in the last 16 of the FA Trophy.
Fylde beat National League South side Eastbourne Borough 4-1 on Saturday and are now just three wins away from a Wembley final.
Monday’s third round draw has given them another away tie – this time to a National League outfit in the shape of Gateshead.
The Heed, currently tenth in the top tier of Non-League, will go into the game as favourites but Challinor is relishing the trip.
“It’s an exciting draw and one that we are now very much looking forward to,” he said. “With the teams left in the draw there was a good chance that we were going to be pitched against a side from the division above.
“It could have been worse, but I suppose it could have been better. It’s another away trip in the competition and an opportunity to go to a new ground and play against a team in the division that we aspire to be in.
“Hopefully we can show them that we are a good side like we did at Eastbourne on Saturday.
“In a one-off game we know anything can happen. We showed against Millwall, who are quite a bit further up the ladder than ourselves, that we can certainly compete at a higher level. We know the step up to the league above is a big one, especially as the majority of the sides are full-time.
“We want to go up there and show what we can do. Looking at the bigger picture it’s another chance for us to progress and be a couple of rounds from a Wembley final.”
