YOU could have cut the tension with a knife at Aggborough as the FA Cup third round draw unfolded.

With each tie confirmed and no mention of Worcester City and Scunthorpe, so the collective pulse of officials, players and fans gathered to watch quickened.

Then, elation as ball number 48 was plucked out for a home tie. Suddenly, everyone in the room was dreaming of facing a Premier League giant.

Then, despair as Alan Shearer rummaged in the bag of fate and came out with Chesterfield.

Nobody could disguise their disappointment. It was a rotten draw.

Those in attendance had gathered to see the prospect of City taking on Chelsea, not Chesterfield.

To make it worse, each of the other seven non-league teams left in the competition were drawn against Championship opposition or above, with three playing Premier League sides.

Time, then, to salvage a few positives.

While this wasn’t the draw anyone really wanted, City would at least be at Aggborough if they overcome Scunthorpe in Wednesday’s replay.

Whether it be Chesterfield, or MK Dons should the Spireites be kicked out for fielding an ineligible player, it would represent an opportunity to progress.

Although odds against, beating two League One opponents at Aggborough, where Worcester are unbeaten this season, to reach the fourth round is not an insurmountable challenge.

After all, they have played two from the third tier away from home already and not lost to either. If the chance has been denied to cash in financially from a big draw, the next best thing is to look to go as far as possible.

City need to guard against feeling sorry for themselves. Yes, the potential draw has not been kind, but they are enjoying the sort of cup run few sides at their level ever experience.

Playing against Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena was one of the most attractive first round ties.

Worcester revelled in the occasion and, roared on by 3,000 travelling fans, emerged deserving 2-1 victors thanks to Sean Geddes’ double.

There was another carnival atmosphere at Scunthorpe last Sunday and Carl Heeley’s side once again defied their inferior league status to force a replay. Both matches were given top billing in the BBC highlights and the BT Sport cameras will be at Aggborough to screen the second round replay live.

After reaching the first round proper for the first time in nearly a decade, City understandably craved a glamour tie.

But if you had offered Heeley and his players that when they took on Rugby Town in the second qualifying round back in September, you bet they’d have taken it.