NORTHWICH Victoria can write a new – no doubt unwanted – chapter in Charlton Athletic’s history should they overcome the Addicks in Sunday’s FA Cup first round clash.
The men from the Valley have never lost a competitive match against non-league opposition.
“That shows what we’re up against,” said Vics boss Andy Preece.
“They’re a good side and it’s no accident they’re battling at the top of League One.”
Charlton lost 3-1 at Carlisle United last weekend, only their fourth defeat in this calendar year.
The promotion hopefuls remain second in the standings behind Leeds United though; that’s 85 places above their opponents this weekend.
Defeat at Brunton Park was only their second of a flying start the season, which saw manager Phil Parksinson scoop the Coca-Cola League One Manager of the Month award for August.
Preece said: “He will have them fired up on Sunday.
“Nobody likes losing games, particularly when they’re not used to it so I’m sure Phil will be expecting a reaction from his players.
“We were both disappointed last weekend though because I felt we should have taken three points at Stafford.”
Preece’s assistant Andy Morrison was at Carlisle.
“We’ve looked at ways we might be able to get at them,” added Preece.
“Andy has brought back some good stuff and hopefully there are one or two things we’ll be able to exploit.”
Current groundsman Colin Powell was on the pitch the last time Charlton played a team from outside the Football League in the FA Cup nearly three decades ago.
They beat Harlow Town 2-0 in a match broadcast live by the BBC. It was also the last time they featured in the first round of the competition.
“It was a really difficult game but we came through unscathed and deserved to win," he told the Addicks’ official website this week.
“You’re on a hiding to nothing in many ways because people love to see league clubs getting knocked out by smaller sides.”
Sunday’s tie also sees winger Scott Wagstaff potentially return to Northwich, where he played five times during a loan spell last season.
He scored his first goal in senior football in Vics 4-1 reverse at Eastbourne Borough, only to be sent off later in the same game.
That was his last appearance in green and white.
"It was definitely a really good experience for me there," said the 19-year-old, who has scored twice in 11 first team appearances for Charlton this season.
"It was a totally different type of football from what I was used to and it definitely made me a better player in the long run.
"It's a really nice stadium and the pitch is really nice and quite wide as well. It's a decent set-up."
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