We know it will be a tough task to get a result but we are determined to give it a go and let's hope we are one of the FA Cup upsets people are talking about at full-time, says Sutton Athletic coach Tristan Cropley

SUTTON ATHLETIC coach Tristan Cropley says he is flying back from Lanzarote so he can be in the dug-out for tomorrow’s FA Cup tie against Ashford United.

Newly-promoted Sutton Athletic go into the Preliminary Round clash sitting in seventh-place in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table, having beaten Canterbury City 4-1 and coming back from Bearsted with a 1-1 draw last time out.

The Sutts inflicted more FA Cup misery on Welling Town, winning the Extra Preliminary Round tie 1-0.

“It’s been a good start to the season, four points from two games at any level is impressive, even more so in our maiden season at Step Five and the win in the last round was a bonus,” said Cropley.

“We had a tough trip to Bearsted last Saturday in the heat.  It was a hard-fought draw.  It was a typical game of two halves.  Bearsted scored early in the first half and we equalised on 70 minutes.  The heat zapped the tempo and a draw was a fair result.”

Tommy Warrilow brings his Ashford United side to Lower Road sitting in eighth-place in the league above, the Isthmian League South East Division.

The Nuts & Bolts kicked off their campaign with a 1-0 win at Burgess Hill Town last weekend but their home game against Sevenoaks Town on Tuesday night was postponed due to pitch issues at Homelands.

“The FA Cup throws up these David V Goliath draws and that’s what we have on Saturday,” said Cropley.

“We know it will be a tough task to get a result but we are determined to give it a go.

“We’ve got good Cup experience as a group against higher level opposition in recent seasons, we also have home advantage.  Let’s hope we are one of the cup upsets people are talking about at full-time!

“It’s our 125^th birthday this year so any Cup run, especially The FA Cup would be huge for us.

“Financially The FA Cup is important for smaller clubs as a good run could help keep clubs going even more so post Covid and the current cost of living crisis.

“We’ve watched videos of Ashford and saw their 1-0 win over Burgess Hill Town in the league. They are a very talented group with threats across the team.

“We will concentre on us and make sure we play as well as we can. Whatever side we put out they have our full confidence.”

Sutton Athletic  v  Ashford United
The Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round
Saturday 20 August 2022
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Lower Road, Hextable, Kent BR8 7RZ