Abbott: We won't be on the end of FA Cup shock

SITTINGBOURNE boss Gary Abbott vows to continue his side’s impressive away form when he takes his side to Kent Leaguers Erith & Belvedere in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Brickies have beaten Merstham, Corinthian-Casuals and Godalming Town on their travels so far this season and Abbott wants to keep their 100% away record, at Park View Road.

“We’re not going to be on the end of a Cup shock,” Abbott insisted, when speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight.

“We’re going to go there positive, I’ve got to go there positive and yes, we are going to win over there - if it needs a replay we’ll take a replay at home.

“We do our struggle on our pitch. We shouldn’t keep saying it, we’ve got to get on with it, but the facts of the matter is we can’t play as well on this pitch because it’s so bobbly.

“From the side people think it looks nice and it does look nice from the side but until you get onto it and you push balls into forwards it bobbles all over the shop.

“I think everyone likes playing away to be honest with you, which is not very nice really because you want to play at home.

“But we’re doing well away, we’ve played three and won three so we’re confident of getting a result at Erith, very confident.”

Abbott will be without Ben Payne and Bryan Glover, who have already played in the Cup for Slade Green and Croydon Athletic respectively and winger Sebastain Schoburgh, who is on a dual registration with Blue Square South side Welling United, cannot play as Andy Ford doesn’t want him cup-tied.

Player-assistant manager, Richard Brady, who has scored 5 times already this season, has challenged Sittingbourne to stop giving opponents’ head starts - something that has plagued the side so far this season.

Bottom-of-the-table Crowborough Athletic found themselves 2-0 down at Bourne Park tonight before two goals in the last ten minutes from Dave Milton and Elie Kayembe - their third goals of the season - earned Sittingbourne a point.

“We’re going to play on Welling’s pitch and we’re looking forward to going there,” said Brady.

“But (in the) FA Cup anything happens so we’ve got to be on our mettle and we’ve got to be looking to start better than we did tonight."

Visit Sittingbourne’s website:  www.sittingbournefc.co.uk

Visit Erith & Belvedere’s website: www.erithandbelvederefc.co.uk

Erith & Belvedere v Sittingbourne
FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) First Qualifying Round
Saturday 13^th September 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Park View Road, Welling, Kent DA16 1SY