We don’t want a repeat of the Redhill defeat a couple of years ago, says Tonbridge Angels' assistant manager Barry Moore

TONBRIDGE ANGELS’ assistant manager Barry Moore says he is keen to avoid slipping up on another FA Cup banana skin on Sunday afternoon.

The Angels are unbeaten in their opening six Ryman Premier League games this season and are in second-place in the table, a couple of points behind Leiston.

Steve McKimm’s side travel to Hellenic League Premier Division side Ascot United in The FA Cup First Qualifying Round on Sunday.

The Berkshire side beat Didcot Town 4-3 in the last round – Didcot reached the First Round last season – but Moore insists Tonbridge Angels have more than enough quality in their ranks to avoid being on the end of a giant-killing act, just yards from Ascot’s Racecourse.

He said: “Everyone says the same, they’ve got nothing to lose, it’s a banana skin but I’d rather much play a lower team than a team in and around you in the Ryman Prem or the Evo-Stick Prem because you are expected to win.

“But at the same time you can see the character of your players and we don’t want a repeat of the Redhill defeat a couple of years ago and Leiston last year when they were up the top near the same position as us and that was an unlucky draw.

“If we come out and play to our ability we’ve got a very, very good chance of winning. If we don’t then Ascot have got a chance so we’ll see.”

The last time that the club got close to reaching The FA Cup First Round was when they suffered a shock 3-1 defeat at Ware in the Fourth Qualifying Round back in 2007.

Moore played for Hayes when they reached The FA Cup Second Round back in 1999 and wants to replicate those memories at Longmead Stadium this season.

“You don’t get many in your career,” he reflected with pride.

“We had a couple of half decent draws. We had a good one. We had Chelsea in the next round but we lost to Hull City in a replay.

“That was nice, it’s more for the players come and enjoy it and it gets the crowds in and it’s really for the fans as well, that little bit of excitement we might get in four rounds, we might get a league club down here and going by our fantastic support, it will be good for them.”

Visit Tonbridge Angels’ website: www.tonbridgeangelsonline.co.uk

Ascot United  v  Tonbridge Angels
The Emirates FA Cup First Qualifying Round
Sunday 4^th September 2016
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Racecourse Ground, Winkfield Road, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7LJ