Rovers triumphed 3-1 at fellow Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division side Great Yarmouth in a second-round tie last Saturday, but Drake wasn’t overly impressed with the manner of their victory against a team currently propping up the league table.

Jack Chandler hit a ninth-minute opener which was quickly followed by a second goal from Matty Allan, but Rovers allowed the hosts to halve their arrears from the spot before half-time as Charlie Bowen conceded a penalty.

Allan eventually sealed their passage with 15 minutes remaining to secure £900 in prize money, but Rovers now face a tough home clash in the third round. They will welcome Holbeach United, who are managed by former Huntingdon Town boss Seb Hayes and unbeaten in their last 10 games, on December 1.

Drake said: “We made hard work of winning a game that we dominated and should really have wrapped up before half-time.

“But it’s a cup competition and all that really matters is getting through, although we know we have a tough challenge ahead in the next round.

“Holbeach are clearly going well in their league, but you can sometimes make the mistake of focusing a bit too much on the opposition and forget what we’re about ourselves.

“We got knocked out of the Vase at the third round stage last year against another UCL side – Deeping - and that defeat, when we threw it away and let ourselves down, still frustrates me to this day.

“So hopefully we can go one better this season but we’ve got a busy and difficult month ahead before we can even think about the Vase.”

Rovers, who sit fourth in the Premier Division standings, head back to the East coast this Saturday when they face Gorleston.

Before then they make the much shorter trip to St Ives Town tomorrow night, Tuesday, for a Hunts Senior Cup tie.

Drake believes his side ‘have nothing to lose’ in the quarter-final clash against a Saints side who play two levels higher in the Southern League Premier Division Central, but have been in woeful form of late.

Rovers then have another knockout clash next Tuesday when going to Ely City in the Hinchingbrooke Cup.