We are looking to finish the tie in normal time and to move forward to the next round without the penalty shoot-out, says Fisher boss Ajay Ashanike

FISHER manager Ajay Ashanike says he hasn’t been able to watch their FA Cup opponents in the flesh.

 

Fisher have been granted permission to open their turnstiles for their Extra Preliminary Round tie against Sussex side Horsham YMCA on Tuesday night and Fisher club members are allowed to attend the cup tie due to capacity restrictions.

“We know nothing about Horsham YMCA,” admitted the Fisher boss.

“We watched most of their games, which were on YouTube from last season, which could mean nothing as the squad changes all the time at our level.

“The most important thing to me is how we play on the night.  If we can apply what we do at training, I’m sure the boys will come out on top.”

FA Cup ties will go straight to penalties if scores are level after 90 minutes and half of the qualifying rounds are being played midweek due to the delayed start to the 2020-21 campaign.

“Playing midweek in The FA Cup is something new to us and it’s the first game of the season,” said Ashanike.

“We are more than ready to go and looking forward to playing in front of our fans again.

“I’m not looking forward to penalties. We are looking to finish the tie in normal time and to move forward to the next round without the shoot-out.”

Fisher were in twelfth-place in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table at the time of the health pandemic and having no playing budget, Ashanike has lost some of his players to other clubs.

He said: “We have lost some of the boys from last season but we have recruited some good players over the summer. 

“We are looking to take it game-by-game and see where that takes us come the end of the season.”

The Fish kick-off their Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division campaign with a trip to Crowborough Athletic on Saturday 5 September (15:00).

Sean Muggeridge’s side were second-from-bottom in the table when the season was called to a halt in March.

Visit Fisher’s website: www.fisherfc.org

Fisher  v  Horsham YMCA
The Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
Tuesday 1 September 2020
Kick Off 7:45pm
at St Paul’s Stadium, Salter Road, Rotherhithe, London SE16 6NT