AFC Fylde defender Steve Williams hopes his side can go one better in the FA Cup this season ahead of their second qualifying round tie at Alfreton Town this afternoon.

The Coasters faced Millwall in the first round proper last year and Williams admits that manager Dave Challinor is keen for another successful run in the competition.

Williams said: “Whatever the game you play in, winning breeds confidence so it makes no difference to us whether it’s league or cup.

“The manager has been talking to us this week about reaching the first round last season and he wants us to go one better this time around.

“So our aim this year is certainly to reach the first round and hopefully the second round if we can.

“Anything better than last season will do us the world of good as a group.

“It’s not ideal to be drawn away from home against a club in our league when we could have played someone lower.

“That said, we have already been there and beaten them this season so we will go back to do the same thing with the same mentality.

“If we are going to get any further in the FA Cup then we are going to have to beat better teams than Alfreton.”

Williams has plenty of experience in the competition, netting a late third round equaliser against Sheffield Wednesday for a Macclesfield side that also included Coasters keeper Rhys Taylor, however the replay proved to be a hurdle too far.

“I’ve played in the third round of the competition before and that’s the round you really want to reach as a non-league side. We had a good run at Macclesfield and came up against Sheffield Wednesday and we managed to get a draw and earn a replay. We went to their place and despite equalising in the second half, we got beat by three late goals.

“A cup run is great for the club and the fans. The feel around the place and atmosphere when you start to reach the later stages gives everyone a massive buzz. Everybody loves the FA Cup because there is always the chance of an upset.

“You can get some great crowds in the cup and if we can do well it will also be good for us on a publicity front. It would be great for the chairman, the lads and the fans to go on another run.”

The former Bradford City man limped off last weekend during the victory at FC United, but admits he is now raring to go after an extended break.

“I was carrying a bit of a knock from last weekend so the game being called off on Tuesday gave me a bit more time to rest and recover.

“I feel fit and strong, I just need to make sure I’m right for this afternoon. We have a few lads that are on a really good run of form at the moment and the team in general is playing well so I think we are fine competing on more than on front this season.”