STANWAY ROVERS boss Danny Slatter has admitted being enthused and inspired by the cup heroics of neighbours Colchester United and Maldon and Tiptree.

The U's have a dream Carabao Cup quarter-final tie at mighty Manchester United to look forward to while Maldon have battled all the way to the FA Cup first-round proper and face a match at Leyton Orient on Sunday week.

Both have put Essex football on the map and now Stanway are hoping for a knockout success of their own when they head to Deeping Rangers on Saturday, in the second round of the FA Vase.

"League football is our bread and butter but you can't beat the excitement of cup football, as we've seen with Colchester and Maldon," said Slatter.

"It's very inspiring.

"It really captures people's imagination and, as someone involved in non-league football, it allows you to have visions and dreams.

"We all have aspirations and it shows anything's possible.

"Obviously we're not going to play a team like Manchester United but the final of the Vase is at Wembley Stadium.

"Imagine how exciting that would be for our players?

"It would be a dream come true."

Slatter was part of the Stanway team that reached the fifth round of the Vase in 2015, just missing out on a quarter-final place after losing 2-0 at Cornish side St Austell.

Now, as manager, he hopes to build on those experiences and lead his team to another memorable run this year.

"I said when I took over in the summer that I wanted a good Vase run," he said.

"It's an amazing competition for clubs at our level and you never know what can happen, if you win a few games.

"You don't know who you're going to play or where you're going to go.

"It creates a real buzz and a very special atmosphere.

"We've been very happy with our start to the season and we'd love that to continue on Saturday, although we don't know much about Deeping.

"It's non-league football and we haven't got the resources to have them watched.

"But it's about us, as far as I'm concerned.

"We've got a great squad, real togetherness and a brilliant team spirit."

Stanway are third in the Thurlow Nunn League premier division while Lincolnshire side Deeping are second in the Uhlsport United Counties League.

Their home ground is called the Haydon Whitham Stadium.