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Rovers meet Notts Alliance side Hucknall CW in good spirits after catapulting themselves back into the Banks’s League title race with three wins, a draw and four successive clean sheets since the defeat at Hinckley on November 18th.

It was Rovers’ durability in defence in harness with their scoring power which propelled them into runners-up spot last season and manager Frank Northwood will be relieved that the jitters which punctuated their form in the opening weeks of the campaign now appear to have been eradicated.

The odds are that Gresley will need to be at their most resilient tomorrow for although league status suggests they ought to be comfortable winners, that is unlikely to be the case.

The Notts Alliance sits uncomfortably on the lower rungs of the non-league pyramid, but in reality it is a strong league with a good record in the Vase.

Rainworth MW were beaten finalists in 1982 and have been in the fifth round on two other occasions. They have also made their mark on this season’s competition and travel to Teeside tomorrow to take on Guisely of the Northern Counties (East League).

Hucknall tasted success last season, accounting for such notables as Coventry Sporting, Bilston Town and Newcastle Blue Star en route to the quarterfinal defeat at Warrington.

It is worth reminding Rovers, too, that last season they had considerable difficulty in dealing with another Alliance side, Clipstone MW, in an early round.

So, Gresley can expect a severe examination from a side which has impressed them on two occasions they have had them watched.

It is worth pointing out, however, that Rovers have already disposed of powerful opposition in the shape of Long Buckby, Eastwood (Hanley) and Coventry Sporting.

If the form displayed in those games can be repeated, those twin towers at Wembley will seem a little closer by tea-time tomorrow.