CRADLEY Town face one of the biggest games in their recent history when they travel to Hucknall Town in the FA Cup second qualifying round on Saturday (3pm).

And they will go into the game with confidence against the Blue Square North outfit after chairman Trevor Thomas pledged they would put out a full strength team.

Cradley won 3-1 win in the FA Cup first qualifying round replay at Ellesmere, where Joseph Cole, Marlon Walters and Ryan Rowe were on target.

But an experiment of giving squad players a game against West Midlands Division One outfit Warstones Wanderers in the FA Vase went wrong as Cradley crashed out 2-1 on penalties.

Cradley bounced back in the league on Tuesday night with a 4-0 league win over Friar Lane and Epworth, two goals from Mark Swann and one each from Josh Gunter and Cole giving them a boost.

A victory at Hucknall, who are bottom of the Blue Square North with only one win all season, would be worth £4,500 to Cradley.

Thomas said: “It was a bit of a shock losing to Warstones although all credit to them because they battled and played well throughout.

“But maybe we were guilty of thinking we had the squad to cope with them and consequently gave some of the players who haven’t featured so far a run-out.

“The likes of Walters and Rowe for example were missing, although with the chances we had we could have won on the day.

“The big guns will be back on Saturday because there will be no room for error against Hucknall - a lot is at stake and it is a big day for the club.

“They have had a poor start to the season but let’s not forget they are three leagues above us and we just can’t take anything for granted.

“It is definitely a game where I think we are more than capable of getting a result but we will really have to be at the top of our game and avoid any mistakes as much as possible.

“Marcus (McDonald the manager) is a bubbly and confident character and will have the lads charged up for it and full of confidence.”

Thomas added he hoped to see as many supporters make the trip as possible, with a coach being run to the game.