Cox wary of Ashton United threat as Poppies head north for FA Trophy clash

The Greater Manchester side play a level below the Poppies in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, but they claimed an excellent scalp in the form of National League North high-flyers York City in the second round in midweek.

While the Poppies were booking their place in round three with an emphatic 5-1 win over 10-man Nuneaton Borough at Latimer Park, Ashton were drawing 3-3 with the Minstermen, before winning a penalty shootout 4-2 to progress.

The result belied Ashton's struggles in the league, where they currently sit fourth bottom having won just one of their seven matches to date, and they haven't played a league game since November 3 due to the Government's coronavirus restrictions.

But they have won three out of three in the Trophy, all at home, and clearly have something about them, with Cox telling PoppiesTV: "Ashton have just beaten York on penalties, so we can't turn our nose up at that.

"We have to go there and win another tough game, like we did on Tuesday night.

"It's one defeat in six matches for us now, the boys should be getting confident, and we are also getting bodies back all the time now so competition for places is good.

"Hopefully we can go up there and give it a really good go on Saturday."

Decarrey Sheriff was the hat-trick hero in the win over Nuneaton, and he and Cox will be hoping he can maintain that form this weekend.

Meanwhile, the Poppies have revealed that veteran campaigner Brett Solkhon is facing an FA charge, although they haven't revealed what for.

A statement on the club's website read: "The club have today been informed, by the FA, that a charge has been made against Brett Solkhon under Regulation 6 of the Disciplinary Regulations.

"A hearing is expected to take place in January and Brett will be ineligible for team selection until the hearing has been concluded.

"The club will make no further comment until that time."