Ex-Tivvy goal machine Mudge is preparing for a tough match

JAMIE Mudge has warned former club Tiverton Town to expect 'a battle' when they go to Bideford in tonight's Devon St Luke's Bowl quarter-final.

The two sides will resume a keen rivalry when they clash for the fifth time this season, with Tivvy having lost three times and drawn once with their North Devon opponents.

Mudge scored 119 goals in 274 games for Tivvy, and the man who now plies his trade at The Sports Ground is certainly anticipating a full-blooded encounter.

"It is going to be a battle – it always is. If you look at the last time we played, there were so many yellow cards and so many tackles going in," said Mudge, whose Bideford side lead the Southern League Division One South & West standings by six points.

"I think we have played them so many times already this season – I think this will be the fifth time – that we actually know them quite well.

"But the way we are playing right now and the way the team is performing is so good at the moment that we are confident.

"I think Sean (Joyce – Bideford manager) has got just the right mixture of youth and experience in the side – he has really got it just right.

"I enjoy seeing everybody (at Tiverton). It is always nice to see old faces. If you do score against your old club it can be a bit tricky.

"I was there for five or six years and had a good time there but I am at Bideford now and have a job to do here.

"It's the quarter-finals and you are so close to winning it at that stage that you might as well go for it.

"I am not sure how Sean is going to play the tie but everybody who does play is going to want to win the game.

"It is going to be a good side. I am sure a few players who are usually on the bench will play but we have a good squad and I am sure everybody is up for it."

Tiverton Town manager Mark Saunders admitted it would be an experimental side that he will field for the clash, much like in the previous round against Barnstaple Town.

A number of promising youngsters from the reserves such as Adam Kana-ah – who convereted the winning penalty in the win over Barum – Ed Plackett and Tom Tricker are expected to feature to some extent.

And Saunders admitted it would be useful to give some lesser-used players a game while also casting an eye over the club's younger prospects.

"It will be a mix and match side. It is one of those games that does give us a chance to look at some of the promising youngsters that we have in the reserves," explained Saunders.

"It also means a run-out for those who have been on the bench so we can give them a little pitch-time.

"Adam Kana-ah will be one of those in the squad, as will Tom Tricker and Ed Plackett from the reserves.

"We haven't had the best time against them this season. I don't know what type of side Joycey is going to put out there either.

"Having spoken to him a few weeks ago, I know that he said this game wasn't all that important to him and the club. It is certainly a game we could do without."

The Yellows do head into the Devon Bowl fixture having not played a match since the 3-1 win over Gosport Borough a week-and-a-half ago.

Their scheduled fixture with Didcot Town last week was postponed.