JOHN Coleman is torn when it comes to his favourite FA Cup memory.

Beating Huddersfield Town as a new Conference club in the first round, then Bournemouth in the second round on penalties in 2003 are both stand-out moments for the Accrington Stanley boss.

But if he had to pick one, it would be the moment Andy Gouck stepped off the bench to fire a stunning first-round winner.

“My favourite cup memory would be a toss-up between Huddersfield and Bournemouth,” said Coleman.

“Going away and drawing at Bournemouth when no-one gave us a prayer was great, but the actual excitement of Goucky’s goal and being live on BBC and the fans were going absolutely bananas.

“It was jut a great day.

“I’d have to say the Huddersfield game.

“That was when the Wham Stadium (then Crown Ground) was full and I’d like to get those days back again.”

It not only fired Accrington Stanley back into the hearts and minds of football fans everywhere, the financial gains enabled the club to regain their place in the Football League three seasons later.

“To be honest it’s probably the reason we are where we are. That cup run brought the money in to help us go full-time. Without doubt we wouldn’t be where we are now.”

The FA Cup was the stepping stone to success 12 years ago. Despite Stanley flying high in League Two this time around, Coleman does not expect it to get in the way of their progress now.

They host League Two strugglers York City and the Reds boss said: “It won’t be a distraction. The worst thing is when you’re out of the cup and it’s cup weekend and everyone else is on the telly,” said the Reds boss.

“That’s when it hits you so you want to stay in as long as possible.

“We always say we’re never going to win it so it’s just about trying to get through.

“But then you see Chelsea lose to Bradford last year and pushing for the quarters, and then you think why not try to go as far as you can.

“Hopefully we can get a win and keep the winning momentum going and be in the hat.”

Coleman is without defender Dean Winnard after he picked up his fifth booking of the season in the win at Leyton Orient last weekend.

“Dean’s been doing very well this season so it will be a blow to lose him, but it’s an opportunity for someone else,” said Coleman, who is hoping for a repeat performance from last weekend’s first trip to Brisbane Road.

“It was very professional, very accomplished and very assured.

“In previous years and games the pressure that we came under in the first 10 minutes, we might have buckled, but to stand up to it and then impose ourselves on the game I think was testament to the players and how well they’re improving and how they’ve started believing in themselves.”