Mildenhall Town boss Phil Weavers puts focus on own players going into FA Vase tie at Romford

Player-manager Phil Weavers will be putting much of the focus on to his own Mildenhall Town side when they head to Romford in the Isuzu FA Vase on Saturday (3pm).

Mildenhall have made it through to the third round proper of the national competition for the first time in 16 years – and a victory would see them appear in Monday’s fourth round draw, having been absent from that stage of the tournament since 2006/07.

This weekend’s hosts are somewhat of an unknown quantity given that they ply their trade in the Essex Senior League Premier Division.

The Boro are currently third after winning 11 of their 21 outings, while their return of 50 goals during that time is the highest in the division.

Further information may not be as easy to obtain for Weavers and his coaching team, yet he has a firm belief in his team’s capabilities of picking up a positive result.

“They obviously play in a different league to us and so it’s not as easy to find out information,” he said.

“You do make contacts over the years and you find that a lot of players cross over the leagues so you can find out some things, but not perhaps as much as we do for league games.

“But just as we like to do with league games, we’ll make this all about us. I like to keep it simple and if we play to our top level, on our day I’d back us to beat anyone.

“It will be down to us to go out and prove ourselves against what I’m sure will be a good side.

“It will be a tough afternoon and we’ve had plenty of them in the competition already. March were top of their league, St Panteleimon were top of their league and Romford are up there in their league so we’ve not had it easy.

“We won those other games though and so we’ll be going there feeling confident and battle hardened.”

While Romford’s major strengths would appear to be in attack, they will be coming up against a resolute Mildenhall backline.

Weavers’ team have shipped just six goals from their 16 Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division fixtures – eight fewer than any other side.

He added: “A lot of it comes to consistency in selection.

“Last season I think we played something like 11 different combinations at centre-back and by this stage of the season we’d probably already had eight or nine. We had injuries, suspensions and unavailability – it felt like we had a lot to deal with.

“But we’ve been able to get a much more consistent backline out and also a more consistent team overall.

“We defend from the front and it’s been a real collective effort – you can’t just single out the defenders.

“Popey (Josh Pope, goalkeeper) has also been magnificent and shown all the capabilities we know he’s got.”

Aside from captain Luke Butcher, who is closing in on a return to action from surgery on a double hernia, Weavers is set to have a fully fit squad to select from at Rookery Hill.

Last Saturday, second-placed Mildenhall won 2-0 on the road at Sheringham in the Premier Division thanks to goals from Alfie Connor and Kieran Twinn.