TAUNTON Town boss Rob Dray has “no fear” ahead of their FA Cup second qualifying round trip to Havant & Waterlooville on Saturday.

Taunton have had some memorable FA Cup runs in recent years - reaching the first round proper in 2016/17 and taking then National League South leaders Billericay Town to a replay in the fourth qualifying round last season - and Dray is hopeful that can spur them on.

“It is a bit of a free hit for us,” he said.

“They are a full-time outfit and our lads always raise their games against those sides - we will go there with no fear."

"These are the games we want to be playing in, testing ourselves against these sorts of teams.

"It is also a good opportunity for our loan players, Harry Kite and Zac Smith, to show what they can do."

The hosts are third in National League South after an impressive start to the season, while Taunton are eighth in the Southern League Premier Division South.

Ed Palmer is absent for the visitors due to a wedding, while Nick Grimes - whose red card in the Challenge Cup match against Willand has been rescinded after an appeal - is doubtful with a knee injury.

Opposition in focus - FA Cup memories...

'BROWNE on Town' meets Time Team this week, as we head 12 years into the past to look at Havant & Waterlooville's finest hour, writes Richard Browne.

Taunton's FA Cup opponents this Saturday (see back page) have their roots in Havant FC – from whom Chelsea signed Bobby Tambling – and were reborn (after financial strife) as Havant & Waterlooville in June 1998.

The new club swiftly moved up to Conference South level, but it was their FA Cup run of 2007/08 that made their name.

Taunton only made it as far as the first round qualifying stage, losing 3-0 at Mangotsfield United, but it was a year of shocks in the competition as Havant more than played their part.

Conference outfit (and pre-Dale Vince) Forest Green Rovers beat League Two's Rotherham United after a replay, Stockport County crashed out to Staines Town of the Isthmian League, Premier League high-fliers Blackburn Rovers were thumped 4-1 at home by Coventry City, Everton lost to Oldham Athletic, and Bristol Rovers knocked out Fulham on penalties.

Then we have Havant, who saw off York City 1-0 in the first round proper thanks to Mo Harkin's goal, and then Tony Taggart's strike with three minutes to go took his side past League Two Notts County.

That set up a third-round tie with Swansea City, who were top of League One at the time.

Jason Scotland, Leon Britton and Darren Pratley all hit the woodwork for the Welsh hosts, Andy Robinson finally put them ahead, but Rocky Baptiste's late equaliser earned a replay for Havant.

The underdogs were in dreamland when three first-half goals – from Jamie Collins, Baptiste and a Garry Monk own goal – flew in at Westleigh Park, before Guillem Bauza and Scotland (either side of a missed Britton penalty) made it 3-2.

The Non-Leaguers refused to buckle, though, and Tom Jordan's strike wrapped up a 4-2 victory.

An estimated 6,000 fans travelled north to see their team play European giants Liverpool at Anfield, and jaws were on the floor when Richard Pacquette and Alfie Potter gave the visitors a 2-1 lead (Lucas Leiva having levelled for the Reds).

But the dream died when Yossi Benayoun bagged a hat-trick (in fairness, he also scored three against Besiktas in the Champions League), and Peter Crouch made sure of a 5-2 home win.

Havant's journey was over, but the shocks were far from finished.

Liverpool promptly lost at home to Barnsley, who then beat Chelsea to reach the semi-finals, while Portsmouth eliminated Manchester United, who were en route to a Premier League and Champions League double (not so very different to today... if you swap the word 'United' for 'City').

Pompey went on to lift the famous trophy at Wembley, as Nwankwo Kanu scored the only goal of the final against Cardiff City.

Havant's current crop include Ryan Seager, on loan from Yeovil Town, and former Bournemouth and Portsmouth midfielder Wes Fogden.