Ilkeston youngsters eye Magpies scalp

[FF News]

After bagging two Football League scalps already, Ilkeston FC's proud academy coach Steve Welsh is tipping his young Robins to keep the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League's flag flying in the FA Youth Cup when they host Premier League opposition.

One of only four Non-League clubs to reach the third round, the Premier Division club's youngsters are preparing to take on Newcastle United at the New Manor Ground on Wednesday 16 December after their latest giant-killing, a 4-1 home win over League One Shrewsbury Town on Wednesday night.

Welsh is confident his side can hold their own after seeing them bounce back from falling behind to an early penalty to go through having already seen off Burton Albion in the first round proper and scored 14 goals in three qualifying round ties against Studley, St Andrews FC and Loughborough Dynamo.

The 47-year-old Scot told the Ilkeston Advertiser: "I was proud of the victory but most of all with the manner of it. I don’t think anybody could deny we were worthy victors.

“We’ve got a great bunch of lads and having been to watch Shrewsbury play we knew they wrere a good side but we had a game plan and it worked for us. It’s fantastic for the football club as not many Non-League teams get this far.

Welsh, who joined the club this season, hopes a big crowd will now cheer his side with Newcastle United likely to be well represented.

He added: “I’ve been to the third round once before and it’s a great place to be but this is an incredible draw, one of the best we could have hoped for.

“Purely from a selfish point of view it would have been great to go to St James’s Park but if we market this game well then we can hopefully get the big audience these lads deserve.

“It’ll be a very tough game of course but it’ll showcase to everyone what not only our academy but also the whole club is about given how young our first team is, so it’s a fantastic draw and an important night for Ilkeston FC.”

Source: www.evostikleague.co.uk

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