For manager Micky Mellon there's no time to bask in the plaudits from Saturday's gallant FA Cup display at League Two Northampton as his side bid to recover lost ground in their promotion bid.

One consequence of their cup run is that Town have fallen behind on league fixtures and now stand seventh, nine points off the pace set by Southport.

They have as many as three games in hand on the teams above them and will be looking to close the gap in the home games against rock-bottom Harrogate tonight (7.45pm) and Redditch on Saturday.

But Mellon believes his side can take no end of positives from their 2-1 first-round defeat at Sixfields Stadium.

He told The Gazette: "We were fantastic at Northampton. I have analysed the DVD and we were on top for most of the game.

"We ran the show and were the better team for long, long periods. People were asking if we could play against a Football League side and we have proved that we can do so very comfortably.

"A lot of people whose judgment I listen to told me after that performance that we are a breath of fresh air and that it's good to see teams who still want to play with wingers.

"We were very unlucky not to at least bring them back here for a replay."

A second crack at Northampton would only have added to Town's fixture backlog but that wouldn't have been an issue for Mellon.

He added: "We have the games in hand and anyone would tell you that footballers would rather play than train. And the extra matches they have been involved in have been big games – just the sort of games that everyone wants to play in."

Nobody enjoyed those FA Cup games more than Sean Clancy, who scored in the last three of them.

Those strikes took the winger's tally to four since his return from a business trip to India. "I think the snake charmers have been working their magic on him but we are very excited about Shaun," said Mellon.

"We are also excited about other young players, like Jamie Mullins and Adam Warlow. They know they have a lot of work to do but were are very happy with them."

Warlow had recovered from injury only to pull a quad muscle in the warm-up on Saturday.

"It is a real pity because he is 6ft 2 and has good movement, and he would have been perfect to bring on," added the manager.

"We could have gambled on him as a substitute but it didn't seem worth it with so many important league matches to come."

Mellon was due to assess Warlow at last night's training session.
He added: "The other players could expect a high-tempo Monday night session. The extra training night they have agreed to shows the passion and the desire to do well. The lads can't wait to get back to the nitty gritty of league football now."

*AFC Fylde are also in league action tonight at high-flying Halifax in Unibond First Division North.

Manager Mick Fuller has been boosted by Saturday's derby draw with Bamber Bridge and by the fact that tonight's opponents (7.45pm) suffered their first defeat of the season last weekend at Prescot Cables.