King's Lynn keeper Scott Howie insists Saturday's FA Trophy match-up at old club Cambridge United holds no fears for the Southern Premier League leaders.

By PADDY DAVITT

King's Lynn keeper Scott Howie insists Saturday's FA Trophy match-up at old club Cambridge United holds no fears for the Southern Premier League leaders.

Howie is primed for his first return to the Abbey Stadium since a brief stint under ex-Norwich midfielder Rob Newman two years ago. The former Scottish U21 stopper is relishing the challenge ahead at the Blue Square Premier highflyers.

“I don't think there is a massive gap between the respective leagues,” he said. “Anyone of our lads could play for a Conference-level club and many have over the last few years. Whether fitness shows is another matter but for me confidence is far more important.

“I really feel we can go and give them a game. You have two sides playing well in their respective leagues. Eastbourne were flying high in the last round and we showed what we could do. All the pressure is on them. They are the bigger team in the higher league. It's fantastic to think about Wembley finals and things like that but if you ask me do I want to beat Cambridge or get promotion - well, that's a silly question.”

The 35-year-old has no divided loyalties ahead of his FA Trophy reunion and a link up with Us boss Jimmy Quinn. Howie was a Conference play off final penalty hero at the Millennium in 2004 as Quinn piloted Shrewsbury into the football league.

“He has a phenomenal track record,” said Howie. “He's a good manager who knows his stuff. I'm glad to see Cambridge back up there because they are certainly a big enough club to get in the league again. I enjoyed my time there. I just went to help out Rob first and foremost with some goal keeping coaching and kind of fell into playing.

“Rob really had his hands tied at the time with the budget which was only on a par with the part time clubs, so it was difficult to compete at the top end. Now they've got that stability I think they can push on and look for promotion. I've spoken to Mark Peters this week and I know a couple of the other lads. It's a nice club.”

Howie senses the Southern League title favourites are rounding into good form.

“We've had a couple of blips and Christmas is obviously a hard period,” he said. “When I look at the table and the games in hand it does concern me but I still feel you'll see us and Team Bath emerge in the New Year. Then it'll come down to how you push on and perform against each other.

“We've been threatening to hammer someone and we got that against Merthyr. I feel there's always goals in our side and that takes the pressure off me a little bit. You know that not every small mistake you make is going to be crucial.”

First Capital Connect will run a special eight-carriage train for Lynn's travelling supporters to Cambridge on Saturday. The service departs from Lynn at 12.32pm and arrives in Cambridge at 1.18pm. The train is scheduled to return at 6.09pm arriving back in Lynn at 6.52pm.

Linnets' boss Keith Webb has agreed an initial month long deal with Huntingdon-based midfielder Ben Sedgemore. The 32-year-old former Chelmsford City player is cup tied for Lynn's FA Trophy trip to Cambridge United this weekend. Sedgemore has extensive football league experience at Peterborough, Mansfield and Lincoln and trained with the squad earlier this week.