We are just pleased to have a home draw as that will give us a fighting chance against a very strong Sporting Khalsa side, says Corinthian boss Michael Golding

CORINTHIAN manager Michael Golding says his side’s FA Vase Fifth Round tie against Sporting Khalsa tomorrow is a massive game for the club.

Golding’s side are in third-place in the Sea Pioneer Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table with 43 points from 21 games, four points adrift of leaders Beckenham Town.

Corinthian welcome a Sporting Khalsa side that arrive at Gay Dawn Farm sitting in the top four of the Midland League table with 49 points from their 23 league outings.

“First and foremost this is a massive fixture for the club, but all 15 other sides still remaining in the competition will all be saying the same,” said Golding.

“We are just pleased to have a home draw as that will give us a fighting chance against a very strong Sporting Khalsa side.

“At the start of the season, we set the players the objective of staying in The FA Vase until after Christmas, so we have surpassed that, so each and every game now is a game for us to go and enjoy and see where it takes us, there is absolutely no pressure or level of expectation on us yet again tomorrow, other than what we put on ourselves internally.

“I have personally gone and watched Khalsa twice and they remind me very much of the Cray Valley side that did so well last year, so that should go to show the magnitude of the task at hand.

“We will be as prepared as physically possible but will primarily focus on ourselves and being the best we possibly can be and hopefully that will give us a chance of being in the draw on Monday.”

Corinthian go into the game on the back of coming away from now fourth-placed side Sheppey United with a goal-less draw at Holm Park.

“Our league form continues to be good for us, with a well-earned point away at free-scoring Sheppey last week, becoming the first team in the league to stop them scoring this season – something we also managed when beating them 2-0 in one of the FA Vase earlier rounds,” said Golding.

“The game was fairly balanced and despite us having the better of the first half, Sheppey edged the second half and both teams left the field probably accepting a point was a fair reflection of the game.

“The onus was on Sheppey as the home side to come and win the game, particularly with the change of points from Greenwich Borough being removed from the league and other than a couple of very good saves from Aiden Prall, we never really felt too threatened and happily saw the game out.

“There is still a very long way to go in the league and as we know all too well from last year, there will be many twists and turns in the remaining two months.

“All we need to do is remain focussed on each match and not get too far ahead of ourselves. We are still playing catch up from a poor start to the season and if we want to be seen as realistic challengers for promotion, then we cannot afford to drop too many more points at all.

“To even be considered as challengers again amongst teams with massive budgets (Beckenham Town, Sheppey United, Chatham Town and Tunbridge Wells), is testament to the players and my management team and the hard work they put into each week.”

There are two Kent sides left competing this weekend to reach the Quarter-Finals of The FA Vase and Deal Town make the long trip up to County Durham today to tackle fourth-placed Northern League side Consett at Belle View Stadium tomorrow.

Golding said: “I would also like to wish our friends at Deal Town, Derek Hares and Steve King at Deal all the best this weekend. I am sure both sides will have the full support of the Southern Counties East Football League teams and supporters this weekend.”

Corinthian  v  Sporting Kalsha
The Buildbase FA Vase Fifth Round
Saturday 8 February 2020
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Gay Dawn Farm, Valley Road, Fawkham, Longfield, Kent DA3 8LY