We go to Merstham confident and hopefully we can get ourselves in the hat for Monday's FA Cup draw, says Sevenoaks Town boss Harry Hudson

SEVENOAKS TOWN manager Harry Hudson says he is expecting a really challenging FA Cup tie at Merstham tomorrow.

The Oaks beat lower-league side Horley Town 5-0 in the Extra Preliminary Round two weeks ago to set up a trip to play Peter Adeniyi’s Isthmian League South Central Division outfit.

Sevenoaks Town kicked off their Isthmian League South East Division campaign with a 1-0 home win over Three Bridges last weekend.

“We’re very much looking forward to The FA Cup game tomorrow with Merstham – it’s another away draw and it’s a really challenging game for us,” said the former Croydon, Whyteleafe and Glebe manager.

“I think that’s all three FA draws so far for us have been away, which is a bit of a shame.

“Merstham are an excellent club, they’ve come down from Step Three. Peter is a very experienced manager, who is going to be pushing them to get back up to Step Three next season, so it’s a very challenging match but one we’re looking forward to.”

Hudson said after their opening game that he wants his side to rediscover their ruthless streak going into the Merstham game in ninth-place in the table after the first week.

Merstham, who play at the same level as Sevenoaks, are in the bottom five having kicked off their campaign with a 2-1 home defeat to newly-promoted side Southall, but bounced back with a goal-less draw at Tooting & Mitcham United in midweek.

Hudson added: “We don’t feel we’ve played particularly great in our first two competitive games but we’ve still got the two wins and the two clean-sheets, so hopefully we’re starting to hit our form and our levels.

“We go in confident and hopefully we can get ourselves in to the hat for Monday.”

Merstham  v  Sevenoaks Town
The Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round
Saturday 20 August 2022
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Weldon Way, Merstham, Surrey RH1 3QB