FA CUP DRAW: Kent derby? We're not there yet, says O'Brien

Monday 14th September 2009

SCOTT Porter and Gary Abbott are plotting FA Cup second qualifying round giant-killings as their sides were drawn at home to Blue Square South sides, writes Stephen McCartney.

Porter’s Hythe Town have came through challenges from Whitehawk, Eastbourne Town and Faversham Town and their reward is a lucrative home tie against a full-time Woking side that are presently sitting in 3rd place in the table, just two points behind leaders Dover Athletic, and have yet suffered defeat on their travels.

Porter, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk within an hour of the draw being made, is looking forward to locking horns with such company.

“It’s a bit of a big scalp isn’t it?” he said. “Obviously it’s a big (ask), they’re three league’s above us, full time and we’re only a Kent League team.

“Hopefully they’ll bring a few people down - it’s a good day by all really and hopefully we’ll just enjoy it and just go out there and enjoy ourselves - that’s all we can do.

“The lads and the whole club have to enjoy the day. It’s a big team coming down. Hopefully they’ll bring down a fair few people. They’ve been giant-killers in their own time before.”

Sittingbourne boss Abbott, meanwhile, has been rewarded with a home clash against Staines Town on 26th September.

The cash-strapped Brickies have knocked out Horley Town (after a replay), and Nick Reeves’ header settled a scrappy contest at Folkestone Invicta’s Cheriton Road at the weekend.

Abbott wanted an away game in the second qualifying round, but Staines Town - eleventh place in Blue Square South - is a game that’s winnable, especially at Bourne Park.

“At first, I wasn’t that happy with it to be honest with you,” Abbott told www.kentishfootball.co.uk at lunchtime today.

“There were a lot of teams out there below us that’s still left in it, so I wasn’t that happy at the start, but now I’ve got my head round it a little bit, it will be a good test fro us.

“It will be at our place, they’re halfway in the Conference South. I know it’s going to be a tough game, anyone in that league, whoever you get.

“I’m just looking forward to it now really. I wasn’t too happy about it but we’ll give it a good go (against) a better placed, higher than us. I know that we’ll give them a game.”

Abbott has warned Staines - like Woking are currently unbeaten on their travels - that his side are more than capable of creating a cup upset.

“Of course, why not!” he said. “It’s on the day. It wasn’t a shock to me to win on Saturday at Folkestone, but to everyone else it might have been a shock. I thought we did deserve to win it on Saturday.

“It’s all on the day, it’s who wants it more and that’s what the FA Cup is all about. Yes, why can’t it be a shock? Why can’t Sittingbourne beat Staines - I can’t see any reason why not!”

There could be one Kent derby in the second qualifying round - only if Chatham Town (from Ryman One South) and Kent League side Deal Town overcome their midweek replay’s on the road.

Derek Hares’ Deal Town must leave the Charles Sports Ground at three o’clock on Tuesday afternoon for their replay against Sussex County League side Selsey, having been held to a 1-1 draw on Saturday. Scott Holden heading home an equaliser for the east Kent side.

Chatham Town, who were held to a goal-less draw at Maidstone Road, travel to league rivals Walton Casuals on Wednesday night and boss Alex O’Brien, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk this lunchtime, is fully focused on his side’s replay on the banks of the Thames in Walton-on-Thames.

“I’ve got no problems that we can go there and get the job done on the night,” he said.

Reflecting on Saturday’s goal-less stalemate, O’Brien said, “It was a typical sort of dog-fight. We had a couple of chances on other days we would have put away.

“I sound like a broken record at the moment, I’m saying Lee Barnett had a decent chance to give us a lead.

“It’s one of them, we’re still in the hat. I was very happy with a clean sheet, happy with the way the boys worked, considering it was a very, very hot day.”

Chatham needed a replay to see of Sussex County Leaguers Eastbourne United in the last round, so O’Brien doesn’t mind doing it again at Walton Casuals on Wednesday night.

“In the previous round we had to do it and we did it!” he said.

“It doesn’t matter who we play, I’m always confident that we can go there and give a good account of ourselves.

“The boys were a little bit disappointed after Saturday thinking they could get something out of the game. I’m sure their manager probably though he should have got more out of the game.

“I’m happy with the team I’m taking down there and I’m full of confidence that if we apply ourselves right and work hard we’ll come away with the win.”

Leader O’Brien insists his mind isn’t even on a potential Kent derby against Deal in the next round.

“The draw is Chatham will play Walton Casuals on Wednesday night - that’s the draw for us at the minute,” he said.

“I know it’s an old cliché, it’s the next game that’s important to me. The draw’s good if we’re in the draw - at this minute we’re not in the draw. We’re still in the round previous so let’s get the job done Wednesday and then we can start talking about Deal and Selsey.

“I think if any manager whose in the same position as an or, if you’re looking beyond the as an or, something’s not right.

“We’re going to go there confident. I’m confident we can get the job done and be in the next round but that all depends if we get the job done on Wednesday night.”

O’Brien has revealed that he has no injury concerns for Wednesday night’s replay.

Visit Hythe Town’s website: www.hythetownfc.co.uk

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

Visit Chatham Town’s website: www.chathamtownfc.net

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game with Mike Green reporting from Waterside Stadium

Walton Casuals v Chatham Town

FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) First Qualifying Round Replay

Wednesday 16th September 2009

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Waterside Stadium, off Waterside Drive, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey KT12 2JG

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FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON)

Second Qualifying Round Draw (in alphabetical order involving Kent sides)

Matches to be played on Saturday 26th September 2009 - prize money £4,500.

Aylesbury United or Potters Bar Town v Whitstable Town

Bromley v Flackwell Heath

Chatham Town or Walton Casuals v Deal Town or Selsey

Dover Athletic v Guildford City or East Preston

Harefield United v Maidstone United

Hythe Town v Woking

Margate or Sutton United v Uxbridge

Northwood or Wingate & Finchley v Erith Town or Aylesbury

Sittingbourne v Staines Town

Tonbridge Angels v Horsham YMCA

Welling United v East Thurrock United

Worthing v Dartford

To view the full draw, visit http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/FACompetitions/TheFACup/Fixtures.aspx