Hessenthaler rues Cup showdown with Kent rivals

THE DRAWS for the early rounds of the FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON), FA Carlsberg Trophy and FA Carlsberg Vase were made at Soho Square last Monday morning, writes Stephen McCartney.

With the Ryman League fixtures being published on Tuesday, 15^th July, the Cup draws tells everybody that the football season is just around the corner.

Arguably, the biggest match in the early rounds of the FA Cup here in Kent is the first qualifying round showdown between Tonbridge Angels and Dover Athletic at Longmead Stadium.

The clash between the two Ryman Premier League sides will surely attract a crowd of at least 1,000 to Longmead Stadium on Saturday, 13^th September.

Angels manager Tommy Warrilow, whose side also host rivals Ramsgate in the first qualifying round of the FA Carlsberg Trophy in October, is pleased to be on home soil.

“The main thing is that we’re at home for both of the games, that’s a big plus,” the former Horsham number two said in an audio interview with www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk.

“But they’re two good teams and it could have been easier but at the same time we’re at home and that’s what we tried to emphasised last year, to make Tonbridge a fortress.”

Warrilow knows everybody will be looking at the clash against newly promoted giants Dover Athletic.

“The Dover fixture obviously everyone will be looking at but also I’ve got a good mate down at Ramsgate in Jim so the main thing is we’re at home.”

Dover Athletic player-manager Andy Hessenthaler, who guided the Crabble club to the Ryman League Division One South title in his first season in charge, was cursing his luck when the draw was made.

“Thoughts are I don’t think the draw has been very kind to us, but that’s football,” Hessenthaler told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“I know Tommy Warrilow well and he has a very good team and is a really nice fella who knows his football.  It’s going to be a massive test for us.”

Warrilow also praised the former Gillingham player and manager, adding: “They’re a good team, I mean Hessie’s done a great job down there with Darren (Hare) and he’s obviously strengthened well throughout the summer.”

PAUL GORMAN saw his Erith & Belvedere side dump out Ryman One South club Ashford Town in last season’s FA Cup competition at the preliminary round stage on the last Friday in August.

But the Doncaster born joint-manager of the Deres has warned against complacency when his side start at the extra preliminary round stage with a home tie against Sussex side Lancing.

“Obviously you can’t take anyone lightly,” Gorman told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

CRAY WANDERERS should have enough power to dispose of either Crawley Down or Chichester City in their preliminary round clash at Hayes Lane.

If they do, Ian Jenkins’ side travel to Sutton United, a club that lost their Blue Square South status last season to return to the Ryman Premier League, in the next round.

Wands assistant manager Joe Francis, meanwhile, is respecting his lower league opponents but has one eye on their potential game at Gander Green Lane, a ground where he has fond memories.

“One of my lucky grounds,” said a reflected Francis, when speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“Every player has grounds where you were quite fortunate. I can remember being, I think, either
3-0 down or 3-1 down playing for Kingstonian towards the end of the season and we scored two goals in the last ten minutes to draw 3-3 to seal our Ryman Premier title, not sealed it, but made it difficult for everyone else.

“Sutton were one of our rivals, a big crowd. I think I scored on that day.

“They’re a big club, we give them respect.”

But Francis knows the magic of the FA Cup can spring some surprise results - who would have thought last season’s Final would have been between Portsmouth and Cardiff City?

“We respect all the club’s in the FA Cup,” said Francis, not wanting to disrespect their preliminary round opposition.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS manager Mike Robbins expects the FA Cup and FA Vase draws to prove very difficult for his side.

The Wells must travel to their Kent League rivals Slade Green in the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup on Saturday, 16^th August - the opening day of the Ryman League season.

And in the FA Carlsberg Vase, Robbins takes his side to another one of their rivals, Faversham Town, in the second qualifying round in September.

“These are two very exciting games for me and I would hope they excite my players too,” Robbins told www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk.

“Both sides have good pitches that enable you to get the ball down and play football - particularly as we’ll play on them early in the season.

“Slade Green and Faversham Town are both improving sides. We, as a side will not have massively improved on the end of last year.

“We have more or less the same squad as we did last season, so we’ll know how we want to approach these games.

“We want to progress in the Vase and Cup. The games are happening quite early in the season and while some sides may take time to gel and other sides take time to settle, you never quite know how these games can turn out.

“But we’ll be putting everything into both of these games, that much is certain.”

HOLMESDALE, meanwhile, will have to wait another season before they can make their debut in the FA Cup, but manager Tony Beckingham is looking forward to their FA Vase debut.

The Dalers travel to Sussex to play Selsey in the first qualifying round of the FA Carlsberg Vase on Saturday, 6^th September, with £800 in FA prize money up for grabs for the winners.

“Unfortunately we couldn’t go in to the FA Cup this year as we were told late in the day that you have to do a season in the FA Vase before we go into the FA Cup,” Beckingham told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

He is, however, looking forward to their trip to Selsey, adding: “It’s a nice trip for the boys, the first ever game in the competition and if we can get through that round we’ve got Dorking or Sidley United away, so it’s a realistic opportunity to get two or three games in the competition.”

THAMESMEAD TOWN travel to two of their Ryman League Division One North rivals in both the FA Cup and their first ever FA Carlsberg Trophy campaign.

In the Cup, the Mead travel to Waltham Forest in the preliminary round and in the Trophy it’s a trip to East Thurrock United for McMahon’s newly promoted side.

“We are getting really excited now as the (Ryman League) fixtures are only round the corner and we have had our FA Cup and FA Trophy draws, both of which have paired us against our own League opposition,” McMahon told www.thamesmeadtownfc.co.uk.

“Again something we are looking forward to. We just can’t wait to get the season underway.”

To view the draws in full, please visit www.thefa.com