We've got a massive task ahead of us, says Sittingbourne boss Nick Davis

SITTINGBOURNE player-manager Nick Davis says there is no pressure on his side to plot a FA Cup upset on Saturday.


The Brickies travel to Staines Town in the Third Qualifying Round knowing they have a massive task on their hands to reach the final qualifying round.

Staines Town, who are managed by former Wimbledon stalwart Marcus Gayle, have won all five of their home games in Conference South this season and they dropped down to seventh place in the table following their 1-1 draw at Tonbridge Angels last Saturday.

Sittingbourne suffered a 5-1 home defeat to their Ryman League Division One South rivals Whitstable Town in The FA Trophy Preliminary Round last weekend.

“We’ve got a massive task ahead of us,” admitted central defender Davis, 31.

“They’ve played five at home and won all five, they’re first point away from home was Tonbridge last Saturday.

“I’ve spoken to (Tonbridge Angels manager) Tommy Warrilow about them. It’s going to be a massive ask but we go there with nothing to lose.”

Sittingbourne have brought in goalkeeper Jack Smelt, 23, due to Adam Molloy’s one-match suspension after being sent-off in their win over Ryman Premier League side Thamesmead Town in the last round two weeks ago.

Davis said: “We’ve only got one goalkeeper at the club so we phoned around and asked people if they had any contacts regarding goalkeepers and we’ve managed to get Jack Smelt.

“He’s been training with (Conference Premier) Welling. I’ve played against him before. He played for Margate a few years ago.  Ramsgate players tell us he’s a very good goalkeeper.

“Jamie Day (Welling manager) told us he’s been training so hopefully he will be a good replacement for Adam.”

Davis added: “We didn’t anticipate losing Adam in the previous round.  He’s got a one-match suspension.

“We played the whole of last year with one goalkeeper. It’s difficult to get a solid number two who is willing to hang about.  We had no choice in the matter. It’s a great opportunity for Jack to come in and show us what he can do in a one-off game so it could work either way really.”

When asked whether Smelt will hang around for more than one game, Davis replied: “We’ve signed him. We’ll discuss it after the game on Saturday really. We’ll put the ball in his court. If he does really well for us he’ll be pushing Adam for a number one shirt.


“We just want to get Saturday out of the way. Getting a goalkeeper was a priority.”

When asked how they will beat Staines Town on Saturday, Davis said: “It will be won with the team who wants it the most!

“I think we’re going to go there with nothing to lose. We’re going to set how we think we can get something out of the game.

“We’ve had them watched two or three times. We’ve had a brilliant report from a contact we’ve got at Bromley (Hugo Langton). We’ve spoken to Tommy Warrilow and he’s given us some advice.  We sent a scout to Tonbridge. We know their strengths and their weaknesses as well.

“It’s a lovely playing surface there at Staines. It’s going to be hard work and hopefully on the day we can get something out of it.”

Davis hopes their opponents sent a scout to see their poor performance in their defeat to Kent rivals Whitstable Town last weekend.

“Hopefully they came to watch us last week and saw the bad side of us,” said Davis.

“If we can turn up on a nice pitch and play the way we can and we don’t let them dictate play, hopefully we might just come away with a result.

“We’re just hoping that the right Sittingbourne side on the day turn up because on our day we are a very good side.

“We’ll go there with nothing to lose, expecting to lose in all fairness. The pressure will be all on them so hopefully we can get something on the day.”

Davis wants his team-mates to create all the headlines by causing a Cup upset.

“It will be the upset of the round, no doubt, being away from home,” he said.

“They must have the best home record in that league. They’re the highest league that we could draw.  It doesn’t come any better.

Sittingbourne have banked £9,425 in prize money from The Football Association after beating Chessington & Hook United, Littlehampton Town and Thamesmead Town – and they will collect a further £7,500 if they win at the weekend.

Davis said: “We’ll go there and we’ll be professional. We’ll enjoy the day. We’ve got a coach load, it’s completely full. There will be 100 supporters down there.

“We’ve gone further than people thought we’d have gone. We’ve earnt more money than last year – the pressure’s off us really but in the back of the mind we’re one game away from a fourth qualifying round tie against Luton, Wrexham and Grimsby and that’s as good as the first round proper of The FA Cup.

“There’s a massive prize at the end of it potentially and the prize money as well.

“Away from home it’s going to be really difficult.

“It’s a massive day. I’ve only played in this round twice before in sixteen years and none of the players in the side have played in the second qualifying round, let alone this round.

“It’s a massive day for the club. It’s important for everyone involved in Sittingbourne, likewise for them as well because they’ve got a home tie that they fancy they can win and they hope they’ll get a lucrative tie against Luton etc.

“We’ve got nothing to fear.”

Staines Town played away to then Kent League side Hythe Town back in 2010 in the Fourth Qualifying Round and were complacent both on and off the pitch. Their fans sang “this is your cup final” in the Hythe clubhouse before the game but Scott Porter’s side produced a shock 2-0 win at Reachfields Stadium to go on to lose 5-1 to then League Two side Hereford United in the First Round.

“That’s what we’re hoping,” added Davis, who wants to gain revenge on The Swans after he suffered when he played for Ramsgate against them in the Ryman Premier League Play-Off Semi-Final on 29 April 2008.

The game at Wheatsheaf Park was played in torrential rain throughout and Ramsgate arrived at the ground late due to a crash on the M25.

“The game shouldn’t have been played in all fairness,” reflected Davis.

“I turned up at half-past-seven because there was a crash and literally threw my kit on and walked out on to the pitch.

“There was a dubious penalty that shouldn’t have been given – but they were a good side. We were a good side as well and they went on to lose to AFC Wimbledon in the final.

“I think I owe them one personally myself, so it will be great to go there and get the result.”

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

Staines Town  v  Sittingbourne
The FA Cup with Budweiser Third Qualifying Round
Saturday 12^th October 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Wheatsheaf Park, Wheatsheaf Lane, Staines, Middlesex TW18 2PD