Harpenden Town manager Micky Nathan was left immensely proud after his side forced a replay against St Ives Town in the FA Cup - and he believes it could help kick-start their season.

Harps had drawn 0-0 at home in the first meeting between the two sides, meaning a second attempt at Westwood Road, home of Southern League Premier Division Central Ives, who play two divisions higher.

That ended in a 5-2 loss, Jake Anthony and Marcus Williams getting the Harpenden goals.

But even though Ives showed their teeth, Nathan wants Harpenden to repeat their performance in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division, starting with a trip to promotion favourites MK Irish on Saturday.

"Yeah, it doesn't get any easier," admitted the boss, "but if we if we take this momentum and work rate and attitude into Saturday, we'll be OK. 

"We’ve beaten them before, we went there and beat them last season. 

"We're not frightened of anyone. We can turn anyone over in this league. Our league form hasn't been great but after the last two games [with St Ives], I think we’ll make sure that our work rate is exceptionally high." 

Nathan said the difference was the fact that "when St Ives looked to punish, they punish and they punish with class".

But he added: "I’m immensely proud of everyone, every single one of them over the two games. We’ve given them a game in both matches. 

"This one was probably one hurdle too much for us but that is football and that’s why they are step three and we’re step five. 

"We acquitted ourselves well and we want to be a step three team too, although we got to get out of step five first. 

"But if the lads play like that every week then I think we can be for sure.

"As a management team, we’re trying to instil in them to be brave on the ball. We need to make sure that's our DNA.  

"We don't want to go long, we're not a long ball team, we're a ball playing team. 

"And whether we play step five, step four, step three, we need to make sure that we're brave on the ball and I thought we did that even at 5-1 down. 

"We were still trying to play football in good areas. 

"Our second goal was excellent, the way we worked it, we were patient in our build up and played some good through balls for Marcus to finish it." 

But as is usually the case in these cases, where the minnows force a replay, thoughts are that their chance went in the first game. 

"In hindsight, you probably look back to Saturday and that one-on-one chance in the 45th and perhaps that was crucial," said Nathan.

"But football is a game of moments and fine margins. 

"It was pretty end to end on Saturday, a really entertaining 0-0 draw for the neutral and we did probably miss our chance. 

"But look to get them to a replay and then come here, score two and play well, despite the result, I think everyone can hold their head up high."