Saltash United have the chance to progress to the FA Vase fourth round for the first time today when they face Cribbs FC at Kimberley Stadium (3pm).

The Ashes have never been beyond the third round of the prestigious national competition but in the mood to give their Western League premier division opponents a tough time.

Manager Matt Cusack told the Cornish Times: ‘We enter the game with great momentum from a previous run of games.

‘Unfortunately we had no fixture last weekend but that allowed us to get extra rest into Ryan Richards and Sam Hughes, who are both recovering from hamstring strains.

‘For the players a victory would see them set another club record. The tie presents us with a great opportunity to achieve this.

‘Anything can happen in cup football and we have to respect our opposition.

‘However, we will enter the tie full of confidence having beaten two teams from the Western League premier this season, including Westbury who had won eight out of eight games in the league at the time.

‘With the added momentum in our own domestic campaign and hard work on the training ground we are ready for the cup tie.’

The Ashes will be without midfield man Henry Wilson, who was sent off in the last round at Ivybridge, but he will be the only new absentee alongside long term absentees central defender Lewis Russell and wing back Lewis Edwards, who is close to resuming full training.

Cusack said: ‘We now have the squad to cope with challenging on all fronts and we are entering a pivotal month in our season with this competition being the first hurdle.

‘We then have league games against Helston, Tavistock and Falmouth, with Elmore in the league cup wedged in.

‘The players are aware that in order to make the squad, let alone the starting XI, they have to perform at the standard they have set, starting on Saturday against Cribs.’

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