Vase derby is special tie for Marshall

Paddy Davitt Dereham keeper Shaun Marshall expects tomorrow's FA Vase first round qualifier against old club King's Lynn Town to have a 'cup final' feel at Aldiss Park.

Paddy Davitt

Dereham keeper Shaun Marshall expects tomorrow's FA Vase first round qualifier against old club King's Lynn Town to have a 'cup final' feel at Aldiss Park.

Marshall has played his part in the Magpies' impressive start to the new Ridgeons Premier Division campaign which continued with a 4-0 romp at Yarmouth in midweek.

The Fakenham-born stopper was previously at the Linnets and featured in a televised FA Cup tie against Oldham in December 2006 which attracted the biggest crowd to The Walks in half a century. Marshall now stands in the way of Lynn's bid to build on their own notable UCL league form after the club was forced to re-launch during the close season.

“Whether the game was at The Walks or Aldiss Park I think you can guarantee a cracking atmosphere,” said Marshall. “This is like a mini cup final for both sides and it's tough to say what the outcome will be, but we have started terrifically well.

“The fact that King's Lynn are in a different league makes it hard to judge but they have bounced back after a bad result on the opening day, which was probably down to all the expectation and the pressure in that first game. They went in not knowing what to expect but they have two good managers and there is no reason they can't do well in the league this season.”

Marshall is looking forward to renewing some old acquaintances after returning to Aldiss Park in the summer.

“I know a couple of the Lynn players and most of the boys at Dereham were here before so I think it is a game you can enjoy as a player,” said Marshall. “I didn't really have to think about going back to Dereham because I left on amicable terms before. They just wanted to bring in three or four other lads and strengthen that way but it's a fantastic set up here and it is geared up I think to go higher.

“Tommy Taylor brought me in at Lynn when I was at Notts County and he did well and brought us some success. He was a bit of a one off as a manager and he had his ways of doing things and that was fair enough.

“He brought in players with league experience but maybe some of the younger local lads suffered as a result and had to go elsewhere to get games. It was difficult for them because they had that passion and commitment for the club.”

Marshall admits both clubs could struggle to maintain a concerted league and cup push on the back of encouraging early season form.

“It's not like in the professional game where you can build up for the one match, do all your preparation and then you have time to recover and recuperate,” he said. “Lads at this level have to go to work and get up early in some cases and it is tough. It depends on injuries and suspensions and the lower you go the harder it is to cope without your key players. We know we have to be 110pc in every league game and then when you have cup games on top of that it is difficult.”