SOCCER: The second qualifying round of the FA Cup, sponsored by AXA, takes precedence on Saturday with two local sides looking to pick up another financial windfall.

THE second qualifying round of the FA Cup, sponsored by AXA, takes precedence on Saturday with two local sides looking to pick up another financial windfall.

Ipswich Wanderers and Stowmarket have both already pocketed £8,500 by winning two games to get this far. Another win will see this increase to £16,000, a considerable sum for clubs run on a shoestring.

Wanderers travel to north west London to play Northwood, who play in the First Division of the Ryman League. It will be quite a test for Alan Dilloway's young side and a big day out for the Humber Doucy Lane-based club.

Wanderers, who are also still in the FA Carlsberg Vase, have not made a particularly good start to their Jewson League Premier Division season. But they have triumphed in the cup and a trip to Northwood will hold no fears for them.

Wanderers' official Roger Wosahlo said: "Cup football can be strange. It respects neither reputations nor form, although we realise we face a tough task.

"You look at the Jewson table and teams at the top have gone out, while ourselves and Newmarket may be down near the bottom, but we're still very much involved."

Even if they don't progress, Wanderers have more reason than most to be grateful for the FA's new cash-for-results policy.

Wosahlo explained: "We thought out sponsorship deal was going to continue, then we heard early in the season that we were being let down.

"It leaves us without a main sponsor for the time being, but if there is a company out there interested in backing us we'd be delighted to hear from them."

The Wanderers' youngsters are at home to Hayes in the FA Youth Cup on Thursday, kick-off 7.45pm, knowing the prize for victory will be a visit from Colchester United.

Stowmarket, who were surprised at home by St Neots in the Vase last Saturday, face a trip to a Wisbech side who they used to play in the Jewson League.

Wisbech are now in the Dr Martens League and although bound to be tough opponents, it is a match that Mel Aldis' side could quite easily win.

He will be hoping his players just concentrate on the game and not be weighed down by the extra pressure of winning much-needed money for the club.

In the Jewson League, lowly Felixstowe and Walton United face a stiff test at Premier Division title favourites AFC Sudbury, while Woodbridge Town travel to Ely City.