FA Cup preview: Stourbridge in mood to upset Stevenage

A key part of 2009's run to the first round, Rowe's goals in the 2011 journey to the second round earned him a move to Kidderminster Harriers and the attentions of clubs from much higher up the football pyramid.

Having returned to the Glassboys on loan at the start of the season, Rowe has hit 16 goals and is keen to create more history tomorrow against Stevenage, the team who ended the 2011 run with a 3-0 win at the War Memorial.

Rowe is among several players to have featured in both previous cup runs and admits he's become used to dealing with the pressure.

"It's funny," he said. "A few of the lads have been talking about this in the dressing room, there does not seem to be as much pressure this time around.

"It's a case of been there, done that. There certainly isn't as much hype as the two previous cup runs. A lot of the lads have been there and done it and I know we are in a much better position now than we were two years ago."

The Glassboys had a famous 2-0 win over Plymouth Argyle two years ago in a first round replay live on television at the War Memorial, a sublime Rowe goal at Home Park in the first meeting having helped to earn a 3-3 draw.

A disciplined and stubborn Stevenage side, who were at the time pushing for League One promotion, then proved too tough a nut to crack.

But Rowe, a one-time target of Boro boss Graham Westley during his spell in charge of Preston, believes the gap between the teams may be closer this time around. Westley has returned for a third stint as manager but has been unable to ignite the same spark as his previous reigns so far and they currently languish in the relegation zone.

"Two years ago they were a team on the up," says Rowe. "They'd won the Conference and then gone straight up through League Two and were doing well in League One.

"They were well disciplined but this time around they have a very different team, things are not going so well.

"Their confidence is certainly not going to be what it was two years ago when they were winning every week. I think we are in a much better position but they are not carrying much momentum."

Rowe has been impressed by the progress made by Stour since his February 2012 move down the A451 to Harriers.

His return in the summer was borne out of a desire for more playing time after finding himself down the pecking order at Aggborough last term..

He believes being back on his old stomping ground has helped revitalise his goal-scoring touch.

"I think it's fair to say last season did not go the way I had hoped but it's not like I had a bad year," he said.

"I was on the bench a lot but even though I only started 15 games, I scored 10 goals. That's not a bad return but I wanted more game time.

"I know I'll be going back there having scored goals and played most weeks so this has really given me a new lease of life."

Rowe is back at Stour until at least January but believes whenever his current stay at Amblecote ends, the future is only bright for the Glassboys under the management trio of Gary Hackett, Jon Ford and Mark Clifton.

"I came back in the summer and the place had changed a heck of a lot," he said. "Things have certainly gone up a level.

"There is a better structure to the club and it's a lot bigger now. The foundations are in place and I really feel like they are going places. The cup runs in the past few years have really helped. "

Stevenage (4-4-2): Day; Smith, Ashton, Jones, Hartley; Tansey, Heslop, Doughty, Freeman; Morais, Zoko. Subs: Parrett, Wedgbury, Burrow, Deacon, Tounkara, Akins, Arnold (gk).

Stourbridge (4-4-2) Coleman, Francis, Richards, Bennett, Oliver, Billingham, Geddes, Broadhurst, Canavan, Rowe, Benbow. Subs: Fitzpatrick, Drake, Agbor, Washbourne, Knight, Brown, Slater (gk).

Dangerman: Francois Zoko.

The 30-year-old former Carlisle and Notts County striker eclipsed his total for last season last weekend with his ninth goal in 13 games this term in the 3-1 win against Shrewsbury and always seems to get chances.