FA TROPHY FIRST ROUND DRAW: I want to lead Dover out at Wembley, says Hessenthaler

The draw for the first round of the FA Carlsberg Trophy proved to be a little bit disappointing for our four remaining Kent sides, writes Stephen McCartney.

The last thing that struggling Ebbsfleet United would have wanted was a trip to bogey side Stevenage Borough for their first Trophy tie of the season next month.

The Fleet have now gone SEVEN games without scoring and find themselves rooted to the penultimate place in the Blue Square Premier table after 20 games.

Liam Daish’s side have now gone 14 games without any win and confidence will be low going to play the current holders, who beat the Fleet over two-legs in the semi-finals last season.

Daish’s relegation threatened side have collected only nine points this season - and are ten points adrift of safety - and their record at Broadhall Way is miserable.

This season’s disastrous campaign seems a very long way from that 1-0 win over Torquay United at Wembley Stadium in May 2008 - when the Fleet pulled off the club’s greatest ever result.

But things can’t get any worse for the Stonebridge Road club this season.

They were dumped out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle this season, being humbled by Blue Square South side Bromley in the fourth qualifying round at Hayes Lane.

“Yet again, a tough away draw,” vice-chairman Roly Edwards told www.kentishfootball.co.uk following the draw against the second best side in the division, was made.

He added: “Our record over the years has not been too good there, in fact I don’t believe we have ever beaten them on home territory!

“We will need to be at our best and probably require them to be a bit off colour if we are to get a result.  

“We will be looking to strengthen the team before then however, so who knows?  We will be underdogs so can go into the match with no pressure.”

Welling United skipper Jack Parkinson hopes that the fans will raise their voices for their first round tie against Eastbourne Borough.

The east Sussex side are presently one place above the relegation zone in the Blue Square Premier table.

The Wings defeated in-form Ryman Premier League outfit Tonbridge Angels 3-2 at Park View Road yesterday - a game where home fans failed to create any sort of atmosphere against their Kent rivals, who play one division lower.

“It’s always nice to get a home draw,” the versatile 19-year-old told www.kentishfootball.co.uk. “Hopefully there will be a few people there to create an atmosphere.

“It’ll be a good test for us, considering their in the Conference, but we’ll all working hard at the moment.”

Young brother, Tom, 18, meanwhile, played a key role in Maidstone United’s 1-0 win at Bromley at the weekend and the two brothers will be hoping that they both get through to the last 32.

“I know my brother will be pleased with their draw at home to a team above them as well,” added Jack.

Maidstone United, the only Kent Ryman Premier League side left in the competition, welcome Blue Square Premier side Histon to Homelands.

And joint-manager, Lloyd Hume, is confident that his side can pull off yet another cup upset, although he admits it’s going to be tough, against a side that rely on ugly football.

“It’s a really tough draw, getting a midtable Conference side,” Hume told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“But we’re at home and they won’t particularly fancy coming to us as we are a potential banana skin for them and we have nothing to lose.”

But he added: “I have more than half of players in my squad with experience of the Conference and above and that experience will be vital.”

Dover Athletic, who won an enthralling 3-2 home game against unbeaten Ryman Premier League leaders Dartford, face a trip to their Blue Square South rivals Havant & Waterloovile.

“It’s a tough draw, but one we can win,” insisted Whites boss Andy Hessenthaler, when speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“We lost earlier in the season to them, so we’ll want to go there and reverse the result, but we have nothing to fear.”

But the Kent football legend wants to go all the way, especially as he was part of the BBC Radio Kent commentary team to watch Ebbsfleet United’s success two years ago and has won and lost matches at Wembley during his Gillingham days.

“It would be lovely to go a long way because the carrot is to play at Wembley Stadium,” added Hessenthaler.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to play there, but not the new one so it would be nice to lead the team out in the new stadium.”

1 Vauxhall Motors v Kings Lynn
2 Mansfield Town v Tamworth
3 Gateshead v Harrogate Town
4 Corby Town or Alfreton Town v Farsley Celtic
5 Workington or Solihull Moors v Hyde United or Nuneaton Town
6 Guiseley v Redditch United
7 AFC Fylde or Hinckley United v  York City
8 Wrexham v Altrincham
9 Kettering Town v Barrow
10 Chester City v Fleetwood Town
11 Witton Albion or Matlock Town v Kidderminster Harriers
12 Nantwich Town v Stalybridge Celtic or AFC Telford United
13 Stourbridge or Southport v North Ferriby United or Gainsborough Trinity
14 Blyth Spartans v Ilkeston Town or Mossley
15 Welling United v Eastbourne Borough
16 Bishop’s Stortford v Maidenhead United
17 Chelmsford City or AFC Hornchurch v Truro City or Gloucester City
18 Stevenage Borough v Ebbsfleet United
19 AFC Wimbledon v Boreham Wood
20 Hampton & Richmond Borough v Eastleigh or Lewes
21 Rushden & Diamonds v Billericay Town or Hitchin Town
22 Havant & Waterlooville v Dover Athletic
23 Bashley v Crawley Town
24 Arlesey Town v Chippenham Town
25 Oxford United v Hayes & Yeading United
26 Woking v Forest Green Rovers
27 Weymouth v Salisbury City
28 Farnborough v Newport County
29 Weston Super Mare v Northwood or Carshalton Athletic 
30 Cambridge United v Luton Town
31 Worcester City v Grays Athletic
32 Maidstone United  v Histon

Ties to be played 12-13 December 2009
Each winning club will pick up £5,000 each in FA prize money