Eastbourne Borough head to Salisbury in search of FA Cup golden ticket

The 220-mile round trip will take the Borough team coach - with a jolly bus of supporters not far behind - to Salisbury FC in Wiltshire. The Whites play one step higher - in the National South, where Borough were plying their trade until last season's relegation - and they are flying high in second place in that division.

The rotten luck of the draw? Salisbury and the Sports were actually the first two clubs out of the drum, handing Steve King's side their first away trip of this season's competition. And looking on the bright side, it might have been Torquay or Truro!

In the last two seasons the trips to Salisbury have brought a 1-0 victory and a 2-0 defeat, and with both clubs in current excellent form, Borough will have genuine prospects of success. That might just include a drawn game on Saturday, for part-timers Salisbury would not relish a long haul to Priory Lane for a replay on Tuesday night.

For King and his staff, the season so far has been positive. Handily placed in the Isthmian Premier, and with a significantly strengthened squad since the close season, Borough's engaging Gaffer feels that Borough are in a good place - and going places.

"Against Welling (last Saturday) it wasn't the greatest game, partly with the strong wind which spoiled the spectacle, and partly because of the way Welling play. Lots of high balls, long throws, and we had to stand up and be counted.

"Now it's the FA Cup, which everyone loves, and which is a great leveller. We will go there and give it a real go. We have watched Salisbury a few times, and we know what they can do. But on our day, we are a match for anybody."

The Whites have a similar playing style to Welling: fast, strong, physical. They like to play long as first option, and they have goalscorers. To quite a degree, King loves his own players - including his defenders - to ignore the number on the back of the shirt and to get forward whenever they see the opening. But the likes of Matt Hayden and Sam Oguntayo- nominally full-backs - may have to put defensive duties first for once!

A full supporters' coach will also head west, joined no doubt by many independent travellers, who will probably take the away support into three figures. The Borough contingent will find themselves, on arrival in the capacious McEnhill Stadium. corralled into one corner of the ground - admittedly with its own tea bar and toilets - but on the fringe of the action.

It is an increasingly frequent strategy by home clubs. A precaution against misconduct or violence - from a genial Borough contingent, at least half of whom are of pensionable age? Or a means of marginalising the away support? Non-league should surely always be for sharing - not segregatng!

Steve King's squad, brimming with energy and confidence, will look to extend their remarkable current run to ten successive victories. But they know it won't be easy.