We’ve practiced penalties last night at training so realistically it’s a very different kettle of fish when it comes to the pressure of the game but we have done a little bit of work on that, says Glebe boss Harry Hudson

GLEBE manager Harry Hudson says he doesn’t agree with FA Vase ties going straight to a penalty shoot-out if scores are level after 90 minutes.
 

The Chislehurst-based outfit make the trip to Essex to take on Coggeshall United in the First Qualifying Round on Sunday.

The Foxes sit proudly at the top of the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table, unbeaten in six league games with 16 points on the board, but they suffered a shock 3-2 home defeat to Abbey Rangers in The FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round.

However, Abbey Rangers dumped Chatham Town out of the competition with a 5-0 win in the First Qualifying Round, so Glebe’s exit wasn’t a flash in the pan by the Surrey outfit.

Coggeshall United play one level lower than Glebe and are fifteenth in the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League First Division South table with two wins and two draws from nine games.

The Essex side’s chairman and manager is former professional footballer Cliff Akurang, 40, who played for 22 different clubs during his non-league career, mainly in Essex.

“Looking forward to the game on Sunday, the change of date quite late on was something we weren’t expecting but it’s not been a massive problem for us,” said Hudson.

“Coggeshall are a Step Six club, who have had a bit of a mixed start but they’re a dangerous side and they’ve shown that in some of the results that they’ve had.

“Obviously any cup competition it is always a different animal so we’re very much looking forward to the game and prepared as we would be for anyone and hopefully we can progress especially after our FA Cup disappointment.”

Glebe started their league campaign with wins over Bearsted (5-0) and Erith Town (4-0) and their 4-0 win over Tower Hamlets last weekend was their first clean sheet in five outings, which pleased the former Croydon and Whyteleafe manager, who plays an attractive brand of passing football.

“We went back to where we wanted to be in terms of it was a clean sheet and being a bit more solid,” said Hudson.

“We started the season with two big wins and two clean sheets and then we just let our standards drop a little bit defensively which resulted in games being a bit tight and having to make comebacks which is not how we want the games to play out.

“I was pleased with that game. We’ve worked hard again defensively this week and were hopeful the foundations of that defensive structure have been built.

“We believe we’ve got the firepower who can score goals so we’re going back to that ethos gives us a foundation for us to hopefully having a successful season.”

Hudson would like FA Vase ties to go into extra-time as he believes sides can play for a penalty shoot-out rather than try to win the game.

Hudson said:  “I don’t like it! I don’t really understand it either. The FA Cup is a replay and then it goes to extra-time and I don’t know why in The FA Vase it’s not even extra-time and one leg.

“I think it supports the teams who might want to come and spoil the game and make it very difficult and then play for penalties, so it’s something that I think is not the right thing.

“We’ve practiced penalties last night at training so realistically it’s a very different kettle of fish when it comes to the pressure of the game but we have done a little bit of work on that.”

Visit Glebe’s website:  www.pitchero.com/clubs/glebefc

Coggeshall United  v  Glebe
The Buildbase FA Vase First Qualifying Round
Sunday 12 September 2021
Kick Off 3:00pm
at The Crops, West Street, Coggeshall, Essex CO6 1NT