DON'T write off Radcliffe Borough! That's the message from skipper Mark Dempsey as they prepare for Sunday's historic FA Cup showdown with York City at Gigg Lane.

Dempsey, who saw service with Manchester United, Sheffield United and Rotherham, knows all about David v Goliath meetings in this famous, old competition. And he recalls how he was nearly on the receiving end of one of them with the Blades.

"It was the third round in 1988," said Demps. "We were in the old Second Division and we played Maidstone, who were in the Isthmian League then.

"They had Steve Butler up front and they absolutely battered us. He must have had five clear cut one-ones. Anyway, after 80 odd minutes I managed to leather one in and save us. I've still got it at home on tape."

Dempsey has made it as far as the fourth round twice with Sheffield United, against Portsmouth and West Ham United and once with Rotherham when a Craig Hignett goal gave Crewe a slender 1-0 victory. And Demps doesn't rule out the Boro taking another step along the Wembley trail.

"I think we've just got to go and enjoy it. The massive game was Saturday against Burscough to actually qualify -- this is more of an occasion," he said.

"But York's league form isn't the best and if we get after them and score an early goal, who knows what might happen?

"We always look like scoring goals and we've got the players who can do that in Ian Lunt, Neil Hardy and Simon Carden.

"All the pressure is on York. No-one is expecting us to win, but it's just great for the town of Radcliffe," added Dempsey.

Boro manager Kevin Glendon says striker and leading scorer Hardy is the only injury worry. "He has a dead leg, but he is seeing Alan Raw, the Bury physiotherapist because, although it's just a slight knock, we want him to be 100 per cent for this one," said Glendon.

There will be no special plan or team tactics brought into play to combat the Football League opposition. "It's no secret we don't have much to choose from in terms of numbers," admitted Glendon, "but the lads who have been playing have been doing fabulously well and playing some really good stuff.

"Unless something really drastic happens, we won't be any different for this one.

"Other clubs in this situation seem to think they have to change things around to tackle the teams from a higher league, but our strength is to keep the ball down and go at them. "We have played Manchester United, City and Bury in pre-season and we didn't do that badly. As for York, I haven't singled out any one danger man. I think all their players will be pretty dangerous," said Glendon.

"Then again, they might not have anyone who has played as many Football League games as Mark Dempsey. He's played around 300, plus we have played against other players who have just dropped out of the League recently, so this will be no different.

"Where I do think they might be a danger is at set-pieces. When you have all day to practice things like that, it doesn't half make a difference.

"At our level, we struggle to get on the pitch for a run some nights at training."

But Glendon declared: "We want to put on a show for the fans and we won't do that if we start messing about with the tactics, playing one up front and doing daft things like that.

"It's all for the future. If we do put on a good show the fans might just come back to see us again -- and I'll be delighted with that," added Glendon.

"I just want our players to come off at the end being able to say 'we had a right good go at them'. If we win, that would be fabulous, but I would be happy with that."