ALTRINCHAM are gearing up for their biggest match in four years in the FA Cup second round on Saturday.

The Robins travel to Portsmouth, winners of the coveted trophy just 11 years ago, on the back of a 10-match unbeaten run that goes back to the middle of September.

Confidence will be high after another superb away showing on Saturday as York City were banished from the FA Trophy by Phil Parkinson’s and Neil Sorvel’s slick passing team.

Tom Peers was once again the Minstermen’s nemesis, converting from six yards after Andy White’s cross had found the head of the unmarked Jordan Hulme, who was denied by a good save, the ball falling kindly for Peers who repeated his FA Cup heroics by scoring the only goal of the game.

Steve Watson’s side must be sick of the sight of the Robins, as this was the third time in 2019 that Phil Parkinson had taken his team to Bootham Crescent and won 1-0.

“Some of the football that we played, you just don’t see that quality at this level,” he said.

“The players executed the gameplan perfectly and it was really important to make progress in the FA Trophy, as this was the first of three games in cup competitions, that could potentially have left us with just the league to compete for by the first week in

December.”

Alty are on their travels yet again in the next round as Monday’s draw produced a seventh consecutive away tie in FA national competitions, Parkinson takes his team to Farsley Celtic on Saturday, December 14.

All focus is now on the FA Cup trip to Fratton Park however.

More than 500 tickets have been sold and are available from the club until Friday at noon.

Kenny Jackett’s team are in good form themselves after impressive wins at Rochdale and Rotherham, but the Robins will be relishing the opportunity to play at an iconic stadium against a team that play three divisions higher in the football pyramid.