By Alex O'Loughlin
November 5 2010

Yeovil Town travel to Nene Park this week to take on Rushden & Diamonds in the FA Cup First Round. 

Yeovil will be hoping to end a poor run of form in the FA Cup, with the Green and Whites failing to make the second round for the last four years.

In fact, it was Rushden & Diamonds who defeated the Glovers this time four years ago, earning a 3-1 victory at Nene Park. Since then Yeovil have lost out to Torquay United in a 4-1 drubbing, Stockport County and Oxford United. 

Terry Skiverton is yet to win a cup match at Yeovil manager, and if Saturday's game is to be the first, he will have to do so without the services of Gavin Williams, who has been refused permission to play by parent club Bristol City.

Other definite absentee's will be captain Craig Alcock who continues to struggle with his back injury, and fellow defenders Stefan Stam and Danny Hutchins.

The major doubts consist of Nathan Smith who failed a fitness test ahead of Tuesday's game at MK Dons, and midfielder come right-back Luke Ayling, who came off at Milton Keynes due to a rib injury he sustained. 

Rushden & Diamonds will be far from easy opposition, as they currently lie 6th in the Blue Square Premier. Also, manager Justin Edinburgh has just picked up the manager of the month award, signifying their good form. 

Edinburgh and his assistant Paul Driver observed Yeovil's 3-2 defeat at MK Dons in mid-week, and will be hoping to make the most of the flaws they see in the Yeovil game.

But they will have to do so without captain Jamie Stewart, who received a red card against Kettering Town in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round. 

Skiverton and Yeovil will be hoping to fare better than they did during their last trip to Nene Park, and make it to the Second Round for not only the pride but also the added financial gain. The game comes after Terry Skiverton slammed his sides passion, something which they can correct in a game which will take passion and no complacency. 

The game is available to listen to on BBC Radio Somerset 99.5FM, with a match report following on here later Saturday evening.