Newmarket Town start 2024/25 campaign with home FA Cup tie against March Town United.

Newmarket Town boss Michael Shinn is well aware of how tricky this weekend’s extra preliminary round tie will be for his side.

The Jockeys are set to play host to March Town United on Saturday (3pm), with the winner heading to either Wroxham or Walsham-le-Willows in the next round a fortnight later.

The visiting Hares ply their trade a level below Newmarket in the GCE Hire Fleet United Counties Football League Premier Division South, yet they are widely expected to be among the teams gunning for promotion this term.

And with March having also played two league fixtures already – Newmarket do not start until August 10 in contrast – Shinn is anticipating a ‘really difficult game’.

“It’s strange to start the season in the FA Cup. You normally play a league game or two before like March have, but it is what it is,” he said.

“We’ve played March in various competitions over the years and they’re a very good side. It’s going to be a really difficult game.

“They’re a powerful team that can score goals but also be solid defensively when they need to be.

“It looks like they’ve made some good signings this summer and they’re signings that suggest they want to be a Step 4 club.

“When you factor in that we’ve just been promoted and they are looking to do the same, will there be much between us? I don’t think so.”

Newmarket go into the tie having concluded their pre-season friendly programme with a 5-0 victory over their own reserve side on July 26.

It capped a positive summer for Shinn’s men, who also recorded wins over the likes of Godmanchester Rovers and Cambridge United Under-18s.

And while the results ultimately count for very little, Shinn is hopeful that some confidence and momentum has been generated.

He added: “It’s been a really positive summer. We’ve not changed too much in terms of the squad and the lads have stuck together.

“It means we’re able to build upon last season and I think that’s why it’s been a pretty calm summer.

“The results aren’t important of course but at the same time you still want to be competitive and put in a performance whatever game you’re playing in.

“You always have players away each week on holiday and so we’ve probably not had the whole group together at the same time, but I’ve been happy with what I’ve seen.”

Jordan Foster and Ben Robinson (both holiday) will miss the March clash.