FA Cup Team News: Lovell despondent over Browning loss

Some team news from today’s FA Cup first qualifying round ties

Dover Athletic player-boss Andy Hessenathler has four players missing for today’s FA Cup first qualifying round trip to Burgess Hill Town.

Defender Liam Quinn, who was injured in training, joins attacker Frannie Collin (bug), defender Craig Cloke (kidney) and Alan Pouton, on the sidelines.

“The game will be tough,” warns Hessenthaler. “I’ve had them watched, they’re a decent team (so) it’s not going to be easy.”

He added: “We must make sure we start the game well.”

Margate go into their FA Cup first qualifying round tie at Chatham Town without Jay Saunders and Rob Haworth.

But manager Robin Trott told www.margate-fc.com:  “It’ll be hard. We’re away from home. They’ve had some good results, 4-1 they got through in the last round (at Sussex County League side Ringmer).

“It’s not miles away, which is great - it’s a local derby. The FA Cup is always great for teams if you’re the one that’s going to go through, so we’ve go to make sure of that.”

Sitingbourne boss Steve Lovell cannot play striker Lee Browning at Dartford today.

Browning, who scored the only goal of the game to knock out Chertsey Town in the last round, will secure his move to Ryman League Division One South rivals Dover Athletic next week.

“There are so many feelings about this that it would take all day to write,” said a despondent Lovell on www.sittingbournefc.co.uk.

“But from a managers point of view I am losing a very good player who would have a major say on our success his season.

“Frustrating? Yes, but that is football and we have to deal with it.

“We have worked hard on the training ground in the last two seasons to pull together a group of players that will produce good football and hopefully some positive results that will see us remain in the top part of the league.

“Lee will do well down the road and Hessy (Dover Athletic boss Andy Hessenthaler) is only doing his job but we are the ones who are left to pick up the pieces.

“Unfortunately finances control all football and this is another fact of that.

“We at Sittingbourne are a family that work very hard together both on the field and off and are appreciated by everyone concerned but sometimes you get annoyed when something like this happens.

“We have a great group of players that I am very proud of and we will be successful this season in more ways than one with us all giving everything that we can for the football club.

“I am in the process of trying to find another forward - I can’t play Lee on Saturday, it won’t be fair on him or the rest of our squad, so we wish him the best of luck and we look forward to the big game (at Dartford) on Saturday.

FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON)
First Qualifying Round
Saturday 15^th September 2007

Burgess Hill Town v Dover Athletic

Chatham Town v Margate

Croydon Athletic v Tonbridge Angels

Dartford v Sittingbourne

Dulwich Hamlet v Deal Town

Folkestone Invicta v Horsham YMCA

Hastings United v Ramsgate

Herne Bay v Sevenoaks Town

Horley Town v Erith Town

Hythe Town v Littlehampton Town

Maidstone United v Erith & Belvedere

Thamesmead Town v Carshalton Athletic

Worthing v Croydon

Sunday 16^th September 2007

Cray Wanderers v AFC Wimbledon (2pm)

www.kentishfootball.co.uk would like to apologise for the lack of FA Cup coverage - this was due to editor Stephen McCartney suffering from the flu for a ten day period.

If any of these games need replay’s, then we shall preview these matches.