Stafford Rangers skipper Bobby Wilson is anxious to lay the ghost of last season’s painful FA Cup exit to rest at lower league minnows Coventry Sphinx on Saturday.

Wilson is one of only two survivors – the other striker Nick Wellecomme – who played in last season’s 2-1 defeat at Coalville in the second qualifying round.

Now another Midland Alliance banana skin lies in wait at the first stage with a visit to a club three divisions below them, who have already dispatched of Unibond League Division One South opposition in Rushall Olympic.

Rangers really suffered in the cups last season, with immediate exits in the FA Cup and Trophy an unexpected hit to the club’s financial coffers to boot.

And the skipper is cautious of another slip, after learning his lesson the hard way last year.

He said: “We went into that game thinking we were going to win it easily, this time we won’t and we have had that drummed into us.

“Coventry will get a lot more respect, I don’t think we gave Coalville enough respect last year. The whole club learned their lesson going out like that.

“I think the club banked on us going through a bit, but we were not good enough on the day and let them down.

“The rewards are there to be had in the FA Cup, for the players and for the club, but they have to be earned.

“We have just got to go into it like it’s a normal Saturday really. I am sure the lads will go and give 100 per cent – and it’s practically new team from that day.”