Duffield aims to see off Silkmen

By Pete Oliver

FA Cup first round draw

Alfreton Town striker Peter Duffield has made his living from scoring goals, and on Saturday he will get the chance to show a nationwide stage that he still has the knack.

Duffield dropped out of the Football League when a swansong at Carlisle failed to keep the Cumbrians in Division Three last season.

Now banging them in at Conference North leaders Alfreton, the 35-year-old is preparing to lead the Reds' attack against Macclesfield Town in the first-round of the FA Cup.

"I am looking forward to it. It's a chance to be in the limelight again, and in July I didn't think that would be happening," Duffield told BBC Sport.

"It was a jolt to the system going out of the League and I miss training every day. But I've still got part of the drug of playing with Alfreton."

Having scored for 14 different clubs north and south of the border during a League career which yielded 144 goals, Duffield has helped Alfreton to the top of the new Conference North division.

The pressure is really on the League team Peter Duffield

The Derbyshire side have also made it to this stage of the Cup for only the third time in their history, and are still in the FA Trophy.

"It's a good club and at the moment we could not be better placed. We have got where we would have wanted to be at the start of the season," said Duffield.

Alfreton attracted a crowd of 1,238 for their replay win over local rivals Worksop Town in the last round - when Duffield scored - and are expecting another big gate for the visit of Macclesfield.

The Silkmen, going well in League Two, have never lost an FA Cup tie to a non-league side since gaining League status in 1997.

But Duffield knows there is a first time for everything, and there will be no shortage of incentive in an Alfreton side packed with former professionals, including ex-Premiership duo Mitch Ward and Carl Bradshaw.

"We do have a few who have played in the League and some of them think they could still be playing there and doing a job, so they have a point to prove," Duffield added.

"The pressure is really on the League team. Nobody will bat an eyelid, except us, if they beat us.

Macclesfield boss Brian Horton will hope to avoid an upset

"But if we beat Macclesfield it will hit the headlines. I've been on the other side of it and you do know this kind of game is a banana skin.

"For a lot of players here, the shoe will be on the other foot from what they've had in the past and we will be saying that in the dressing room."

Duffield also faced Macclesfield in the first round last season, but while he was a loser then with Boston he hopes this time to keep the dream alive.

"At this level, the best feeling is getting through and watching the draw. And if we play well, get a bit of luck and take our chances you never know," he said.