Oxford City boss Mike Ford says his side are relishing this year’s FA Cup experience.

Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Redbridge saw City go into yesterday’s second-round draw.

And although an away tie at Crawley for the winners of their replay is not the glamour tie either side were hoping for, Ford was upbeat.

“We are a part-time club, who train twice a week and we are in the draw for the second round of the FA Cup,” Ford said.

“We have to put everything into perspective.

“I have to stress that he draw means nothing if we do not perform in the replay, but we’re just pleased to still be involved.”

Ford added: “I think that the draw is fantastic opportunity for a non-League team, which will hopefully be us, to go to a team who have spent a lot of money, are right at the top of League Two, and play with no fear.

“We can hopefully go there with absolutely no expectations and just give it a real good go.”

Ford, who watched the draw in Oxford City’s clubhouse, revealed that while at first some people present felt it was not a great draw, they soon changed their mind.

“There was a grumble of ‘that’s the worst-possible draw we could have got’,” Ford said.

“But then Gateshead and some other clubs from the north came out and it maybe didn’t feel quite so bad.”