Fakenham boss Wayne Anderson wants his in-form Ghosts to secure a place in next season’s FA Cup.

The top six sides in the Ridgeons League First Division qualify for the preliminary stages of the competition – and Anderson believes that is not beyond his team.

He said: “It’s been a few years since the club was last in the FA Cup, but it’s in our hands. We’ve still got to play all the teams around us, so it is possible and if we knuckle down, there’s no reason why we can’t do it.”

Fakenham’s last FA Cup appearance came in 2005/06 when they lost 4-1 to Waltham Forest in the preliminary round, having beaten Long Buckby in an extra preliminary round.

This Saturday sees the Ghosts’ five-match unbeaten league run face a stern test as they host second-placed Whitton United, who have won their last four league fixtures.

Anderson added: “They are flying at the moment and it’s going to be difficult, but the way we are playing I don’t fear anybody. We’ve lost one in eight which is a big achievement for us.”

Fakenham added to a run of three successive wins in early January with draws against Long Melford and Cambridge University Press and Anderson said: “We’ve dropped four points by drawing the last two games and myself and the players are disappointed with that. Eight or nine weeks ago we would have been happy with those results, so it just proves how far we’ve come.”

Anderson reported a clean bill of health in his squad, who have been training indoors at Bircham Newton this week due to the freezing conditions. The manager expects to have some difficult selection decisions to make on Saturday: “The squad is looking strong now and some of the lads will be disappointed by being on the bench, while some others will go with the reserves and get 90 minutes under their belts,” he said.

“It is a bit of a headache for me, but we’re looking to push on now and finish in the top six.”