I've got a wonderful chairman and a fantastic commitee and I want to repay them, says Sevenoaks Town boss Micky Collins

SEVENOAKS TOWN manager Micky Collins says he is keen to go through a couple of rounds in The FA Cup this season.

The Oaks were knocked out at the first hurdle by East Preston at home last season and welcome Kent Invicta League side Seven Acre & Sidcup at Greatness Park on Saturday.

Sevenoaks Town began their Southern Counties East Football League campaign with a 2-1 home defeat to newly-promoted Hollands & Blair, before securing a rare win at Tunbridge Wells in midweek.

Martin Debrah scored the only goal of the game at Culverden Stadium on Tuesday night.

“Pleased with the result on Tuesday night, extremely pleased with the performance against Hollands & Blair, unfortunately didn’t get the result that we wanted,” said Collins.

“Quite excited for the season. We’re in good shape. The boys we brought in and the way we set-up, we’re in a good place.

“I think we had enough chances to win the Hollands & Blair game comfortably and probably went a bit gung-ho at the end and got caught by the sucker punch.

“The other night against Tunbridge Wells we came out of the blocks and could have been four or five nil at half-time comfortably.

“Second half went down to their tactics and defended very well, still had chances but 1-0 was definitely at least a fair result.

“I can’t remember the last time we went down there and got a result as a club. I don’t know. I haven’t spoken to the chairman about it. It’s probably more than a decade, if we’ve ever gone down there and got a result.

“I know they’re in transition because the manager’s gone and they’re looking to rebuild the squad. 

“First half especially we looked really good against them, really good.”

Seven Acre & Sidcup have played a couple of Kent Invicta League games going into the club’s biggest game in their history.

Lee Hill’s side opened their campaign with a 2-1 home defeat to Sheppey United, but bounced back to beat Bridon Ropes 1-0 last night.

It is the Thamesmead based club’s first ever FA Cup tie and with £1,500 up for grabs in prize money, it’s a crucial game to win.

Collins said: “Yes, massive game for us.  Really poor in The FA Cup last year. I thought East Preston, when we got knocked out, we huffed and puffed and we should have got something out of the game but didn’t.

“I was do disappointed with our FA Cup and FA Vase last year.

“I’ve made that sort of a priority this year over the league.  We’ll show them full respect on Saturday and I know the boys are geed up for it and I know we’re really geared to go at home and having a proper go and trying to get through to the next round. That’s 100% our mentality on that.

“I’m really looking forward to trying to have a run in that competition.

“We’ve done what we need to do. You know me, I’m professional enough to give people respect and do what we need to do. We’re fully prepared and we’ll do what we need to do to get a result and try and get the home game against Sittingbourne in the next round, which is what we’re looking for.

Collins wants chairman Paul Lansdale to be celebrating winning the prize money on Saturday evening.

He said: “That’s massive for us and I’m so well supported at that football club. It’s a breath of fresh air for me being at a club that looks after me and everything I ask for I get.

“I’ve got a wonderful chairman and a fantastic committee and I want to repay them and I know the boys want to repay them for how they’re looked after.

“It is a financial game. We’re not going to go on and win The FA Cup. For us to go a couple of rounds or even attempt it is a big thing and it just helps the chairman and the committee and they don’t have to raise that money.

“If you can come out of it with a few quid, it’s a real positive.”

“The pressure’s not on the money. This time of the year The FA Cup comes in so early at our level you want to gain a bit of momentum.

“The performance in the first game was excellent – we just didn’t take our chances – I couldn’t question the boys.

“The second game we deserved the result and we got it.

“At stake is a few quid and we want to try and get that money for the club and I know the boys do and they are keen to put on a performance.”

Tunbridge Wells’ FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round tie against Kent Invicta League side Glebe has been cancelled as Glebe have been thrown out of the competition.

The two sides will meet at Culverden Stadium for a friendly match instead.

Visit Sevenoaks Town’s website:  www.sevenoakstownfc.co.uk

Sevenoaks Town  v  Seven Acre & Sidcup
The FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round (Sponsored by Emirates)
Saturday 15^th August 2015
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Greatness Park,  Seal Road, Mill Lane, Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 5AX