Jack Mackreth is setting aside the collective disappointment at defeat to Tamworth, insisting there are bigger prizes to be won this year.

The winger was one of a host of players hoping to crowbar his way to a starting spot as Macc aim for their third straight round three appearance.

And with Brackley Town sure to pose a real threat this weekend 21-year-old Mackreth says they won’t be under-estimating the visiting Saints in a game with far bigger rewards.

“You don’t want to lose any game,” said Mackreth, now in his second season at the club. “Especially because in the first half and for most of the second we dominated the game.

“They just beat us at what they’re good at, winning the second ball, but it allows us to focus on next Saturday now, and the league too.

“It’s not the world’s worst game to lose, we’d rather be in the FA Cup. The lads are disappointed – I felt we could have got to Wembley this season.

“We’d have fancied it at our place if it had gone to a replay, this is a horrible place for away teams to come so if we’d ground out a draw we’d have fancied us to get to the next round.”

The Silkmen did have their chances at the Lamb?Ground and while the nature of the crucial first goal for the hosts disappointed boss John?Askey there’s a feeling in the squad that perhaps they shouldn’t get too disheartened, especially as a replay would have taken place in midweek, slashing the preparation time for the Brackley tie.

“It can be a blessing in disguise but then it would have been a confidence booster if we’d gone on and won,” added?Mackreth. “The lads would have gone into a replay on Tuesday with confidence but we’re going into the cup game as favourites so we should be confident. You can look at it both ways but I’ll look at it as a positive.”

And he’s already done some scouting on the Conference North side, particularly on the flank he’s hoping to patrol on Saturday.

“I watched Brackley in their replay against Gillingham. Their left winger looks good, the left-back too. They’ve got a few good players  and they’ll be right up for it. I think I fancy myself though.

“I’ve been in and out of the team recently but I know I’ll hit that run of form that I need. Hopefully it’ll come at the right time, I’m hoping we can get through and get a Premier League team in the next round, I want Liverpool away. If we can get through and draw that then anything’s possible.

“I sometimes would prefer for us to be the underdog. Against Cardiff and Wigan last season I felt being the underdog worked for us. We haven’t been favourites in this competition as yet so we’ll have to see what happens on Saturday.”