FA Vase showdown as Blackstones Football Club hosts Bourne Town
Co-manager Jon Harrison wants his Blackstones side to go out and enjoy a pressure-free derby duel with neighbours Bourne Town in the FA Vase on Saturday.
The two derby rivals meet this weekend in the second qualifying round clash at Lincoln Road (3pm).
With Bourne having gained promotion to step five of the non-league pyramid for this season, it is the only planned meeting of the campaign for the old foes.
And Harrison insists that the pressure will be on their higher level visitors to make progress to the next stage of the road to Wembley.
He said: "There is no pressure on us whatsoever.
"The league is our bread and butter so the only pressure for us is that we could make some money for the football club by having a run in the FA Vase.
"Bourne are a step above us so they've got to perform like the higher level team.
"We're just looking forward to it because it's a derby that we didn't think we would have this season.
"We've put ourselves into a position to have it by beating Saffron Dynamo in the last round so we can go out on Saturday and enjoy ourselves.
"They will bring a big crowd which is good for us and we'll aim to stay in the game nice and early or try and nick something and then hopefully put them under pressure.
"If we can do that then let's see how they cope with it."
The spoils were shared in the Division One meetings between the two clubs last season with Bourne running out 4-0 winners in the Boxing Day clash at Lincoln Road.
Stones then reversed their fortunes with a 2-0 success at the Abbey Lawn on Easter Monday to gatecrash Bourne's Division One championship party after they had clinched the title 48 hours earlier.
The Stamford side also won the last Vase meeting between the two teams in October 2022 after a 3-1 penalty shoot-out success following a 1-1 draw at the end of 90 minutes.
Both sides go into the showdown after contrasting midweek results as Blackstones lose their 100 percent home league record after a 1-0 reversal against Gedling Miners Welfare.
A penalty six minutes into the second half from Courtney Hastings sent Stones to defeat and knocked them out of the Division One play-off places.
They will be on their travels for six of the next seven games due to a changing room refurbishment project which got underway at the Abbey Lawn this week.
A club statement said: "This renovation will take approximately six weeks to complete with the goal of having everything ready in time for our home fixture against Deeping Rangers on October 29.
"While we aim to meet this deadline, unforeseen delays could affect the completion date.
"During the refurbishment period, all of our fixtures for our first team, reserves and Peterborough United Women will be played away or at another location.
"We can't wait to unveil the improvements and make the matchday experience at the Abbey Lawn even better.
"Thank you to the Football Foundation, the Len Pick Trust and Bourne United Charities for their help with the funding of the project. Together, we move forward."
Bourne are currently due to have only one home game during the refurbishment period as they have been drawn to host Dunkirk in the United Counties League Cup on Tuesday, October 1.
Deeping and Holbeach will both be heading to Derbyshire to face United Counties League Premier Division North hosts in their FA Vase ties.
The Clarets - who lost 4-1 at Melton Town on Wednesday night - visit Belper United while Holbeach have a higher level test at Shirebrook Town.
Blackstones Under 18s are also in action tonight (Friday) in the FA Youth Cup when they travel to face Matlock Town in a first qualifying round tie.
