MANAGER Craig Laird will be happy with a single goal victory make the trek to Hampshire for a tricky FA Cup Preliminary Round tie with Brockenhurst on Saturday.

Laird is set to introduce new signing Kane Ingram to the squad with Darren Edwards unavailable up front. He could form an interesting partnership with the other new signing of recent weeks Liam Monelle, who is finding his legs at the club at the moment.

Laird said: “If we win 1-0, I will be happy with that. We will show them the respect they deserve.”

It is a tough weekend for the players as they return from the cup tie on Saturday evening and have one day to recover before a big Bank Holiday home clash with Mangotsfield United at Lodge Road in the Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West.

Laird added: “We will work hard (in the cup tie) and it then sets us up for a great game with Mangotsfield on Monday.”

The league is the ‘bread and butter’ to Yate, but it would be good for the club to enjoy a significant cup run as they have in previous years, and, in particular, 2012 which were their two great fourth qualifying round clashes with Newport County, who are now in League Two, in which they drew 3-3 at Lodge Road before losing 3-1 in the replay at Rodney Parade, Newport.

 “That’s the FA Cup and form and league position counts for nothing,” said Laird. “It’s a great competition to be involved in. It allows all teams to dream.”

Just to get close to the first round proper of the cup would be incredible and, if sides like Warrington Town, of the Northern Premier League, can do it – and cause a giant-killing at the same time when they famously beat Exeter City in round one – then why not Yate?

Laird said: “The league is our bread and butter and the cup is a lovely diversion. We have to take every game as it comes because we have a small squad and we are not a club like Chelsea or Manchester City who can put out a second side for the cup.

“These are working lads and they have to play two games in three days but these boys have been incredible. They do a great job and do it with honesty.”

Yate’s clash with Mangotsfield on Bank Holiday Monday kicks off at Lodge Road at 3pm.