Brackley ready for tough test as they host Braintree Town in FA Cup first round

But the Saints boss has full confidence that his side can get the job done after they continued their strong form with a 1-0 success against South Shields last Saturday.

George Carline's strike proved to be enough for all three points at St James Park as Brackley picked up their sixth win of the Vanarama National League North season.

Now they turn their attentions to hosting a Braintree team who are currently 21st in the Vanarama National League.

And Cowan said: "We respect Braintree and what they're about. They're a very hard-working team who have lots of quality. You don't get promoted to the National League without those atrributes.

"They've got a lot of quality and depth in their squad so we know that they're going to be a tough task.

"It's probably going to be one of our toughest games of the season so the lads are aware and we're doing our due diligence to make sure we take the game as we always do.

"We want to make sure we're the best version of us and I've got a lot of confidence in this team that they can go on and win games."

Brackley have moved up to mid-table in Vanarama National League North after a difficult start to the season in which they took on the majority of the division's top teams.

And Cowan said: "They're all big games. In this league, it's so close and so tight.

"You see some of the results at the weekend and you've got to respect everyone.

"There's some fantastic teams in this league, some incredible quality and it comes down to mentality and consistency, which we've got now.

"In the last 10 games, we've been really consistent and quite dominant in terms of performances.

"We just want to make sure we're getting the results like we did on Saturday and that's why there's a really good feeling in the dressing room for the players.

"Zak Lilley was incredible, Tyler Lyttle's second-half performance was superb, Connor Hall really sacrificed himself for the team, Shane Byrne was outstanding and I could go on. There were some big performances in there."

Carline was the match-winner last weekend as he finished off a fine team move for Brackley.

"South Shields were excellent in the first 25 minutes and caused us all sorts of problems," Cowan said. "They could easily have been ahead and they are an excellent football team.

"But we're pleased with our contribution as a management team and credit really goes to my assistant Jamie (Haynes) because tactically he remembered what we did last year, and we reverted to that, so credit goes to him.

"We were really able to get to grips with them and the players grew in confidence so it was all us after about 25 minutes.

"As we know, this league is so tight that it can go either way, but in the second half I felt we were completely dominant.

"We just need to convert more chances, but it was a great finish from George. We really enjoy him coming in off that side - it's something he's done before.

"George is a moments player - he can come up with big moments. He's a big-game player and it's important to have him in and around it because he can play anywhere.

"We really see the benefit of a lot of his attributes and it was one of those moments where he's come up and got us the win.

"We keep talking about how we want to be more ruthless and it could and should have been more.

"We learned from our defeat to Radcliffe and credit to the players because it felt like a pivotal moment for us."