All the pressure is on Leiston, says Crowborough Athletic boss Sean Muggeridge

CROWBOROUGH ATHLETIC boss Sean Muggeridge says there is no pressure on his side ahead of their FA Cup tie at Leiston on Saturday.

Suffolk side Leiston play two league’s above the Crows and are in third-place in the Bostik Premier with 15 points from seven games, a couple of points adrift of huge-spending league leaders Billericay Town.

Crowborough Athletic go into the Second Qualifying Round tie on a three-match unbeaten run and are in seventh-place in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table with 10 points in the bag from five league outings. 

The Crows are three points adrift of league leaders Sevenoaks Town with a game in hand.

“I think the spirt of the side is very good,” said Muggeridge.

“To be honest with you, I wasn’t really taking The FA Cup, I was taking it serious.  I always say the League, FA Cup, FA Vase.

“I wasn’t happy with The FA Cup this year because I know how strenuous it can be on your squad the more games you don’t really need, but the buzz of it does get you through games because players want to play in it.

“It’s when you go out of it.  We went out in the Vase last year (6-3 to Coleshill Town in the Last 16) and we had a few dodgy games after that because of the flatness of it.”

Muggeridge has the players within his ranks to cause a FA Cup upset against Glenn Driver’s unbeaten side.

He said: “It’s going to be a free one for us because they’re an absolutely quality side!

“I watched them when Henry (Muggeridge) was playing for Tonbridge Angels, they’re quality, but it’s a free one for us.  All the pressure is on them.

“They’ve already stated on their website that it’s a good draw for them - and it probably is.

“We’re not always underdogs now because we’ve got good players.

“That’s going to be a really enjoyable day and I’m not saying we can’t win it.  I just think we need to enjoy it, in case we don’t win it.”

Visit Crowborough Athletic’s website:  www.pitchero.com/clubs/crowboroughathletic

Leiston  v  Crowborough Athletic
The Emirates FA Cup Second Qualifying Round
Saturday 16^th September 2017
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Victory Road, Leiston, Suffolk IP16 4DQ