THE confidence from becoming the first team to take points off Bacup Borough this season can propel Ramsbottom United into the next round of the FA Cup, according to manager Derek Egan.

Wednesday's 0-0 draw at West View ended close rivals Bacup's 100 per cent record, and Egan wants his side to take this form into tomorrow's preliminary round tie at home to Evenwood Town.

He said: "Bacup have enforced their game on other teams this season, which is why they're at the top, but we enforced our game on them.

"You can see why they are top, they have clever players, but we coped very well with them."

Ramsbottom will also be heartened by Steve Dryden keeping a clean sheet, stepping into goal in place of the absent Mark Andrews.

Euan Purcell is likely to still be injured for tomorrow's tie while Chris McKay, Adam Cook and Gareth Brooks will face late fitness tests.

As for County Durham-based Evenwood, Egan added: "You always get good sides coming down from the north east whatever the level.

"We just have to look at what we do right and see what problems we can cause teams."