NO surprises here, so if you're already sick of reading about the Lancaster City v Morecambe FA Cup tie then stop right here.

Right, that's the pansies out of the way so let's get on with it. Forget all the garbage about what's happened in the past or what the toilet cleaners at the clubs think, who's going to win it?

I will be making a prediction later but let's just weigh things up a bit first.

On paper Morecambe have got to be favourites - even though the match is at the Giant Axe - especially if you look at their recent form.

they have one of the best non-league 'keepers around in Steve McIlhargey

Tony Hughes is a revelation at the back

Dave McKearney and, I would think, Andy Grimshaw can run the midfield and:

take your pick of in-form strikers but I am convinced Jim McCluskie will be the man for the job.

Just look at the players that didn't start for Morecambe when they put five past Kettering on Saturday - McCluskie, Grimshaw, Monk, Annan, Miller, Sang and Ceraolo.

However, Lancaster have hit form losing just once in their last 13 games and that's with a few injuries and suspensions hampering things.

Mark Thornley is always reliable in net

Carl Macauley is a superb right-back in defence or attack with Steve Hartley playing his best football at the heart of the defence

Paul Lodge and Steve Trainor are solid and creative in midfield

Mark Shirley and Stuart Gelling have the skill and

who'd bet against John Coleman scoring?

It's going to be close, I'm sure of that, and I think there's going to be goals. Don't ask me who I'm supporting on the day but ask me to predict the score and I'll tell you. It's 3-2 to Lancaster - and you can get odds of 40/1 on that.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.