NOT many managers can say they have won the FA Trophy with a National League North club and Brackley Town manager Kevin Wilkin is hungry for more success in the competition.

The Saints, who host Chester in the third qualifying round at St James' Park on Saturday, lifted the trophy in 2018 following a penalty shoot-out victory over National League side Bromley at Wembley.

Wilkin's previous run to the final didn't end well three years earlier when he was in charge of Wrexham who threw away a two-goal lead against North Ferriby United and eventually lost on spot-kicks.

He has experienced mixed emotions in his both outings at the national stadium and the 52-year-old is still driven to have another good run.

"I have had some great fun in the competition," said Wilkin.

"I have been lucky enough to get to the final twice and enjoyed everything about it.

"It has been terrific to have some good runs the past five or six years and I would like another one.

"You get a taste for it and you want a bit more of it.

"The hunger is still there but you have to take it one game at a time."

Third placed Chester have mounted a promotion challenge under joint managers Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley, with Wilkin acknowledging the good work done by the duo at The Deva Stadium.

"Chester are doing very well," said Wilkin.

"We have played Chester, Spennymoor and Darlington, teams in good form, yes we have had home advantage but opposition managers have been pleased to take a point.

"Chester are a very capable side, they are having a terrific season, and we are taking nothing for granted because we know it will be difficult but we are looking forward to it and are pleased to be at home."

Brackley, also challenging at the right end of the table, only met Chester at the start of the month with the league game ending in a 1-1 draw in Northamptonshire.

It was a game Wilkin felt Brackley deserved to win but blamed missed chances for his side not taking maximum points.

"Against Chester it was the same as most games," said Wilkin. "We should have won but we have to convert chances.

"We did against Darlington, we scored some good goals, but that has been our Achilles' heel.

"If we did not create chances I would hold my hand up but we have created a lot of chances and prior to Saturday we'd scored once in four games."

Brackley, who drew 0-0 at home to Spennymoor after facing Chester, finally clicked in front of goal when they beat Darlington 5-1 on Saturday to continue their impressive record at St James' Park.

"We have been strong at home and that has developed over a period of time, although you don't take nothing for granted," said Wilkin.

"Darlington played very well on Saturday and 5-1 flattered us a bit.

"They could have taken the lead in the first 10 minutes as they hit the post and if that goes in, it is a different game.

"We should have beaten Chester and Spennymoor, we had opportunities to win, and those four points dropped could be massive.

"We have got a really tough December with four away games in a row and four points on us could be massive so we have just got to try and keep it going."