We want to get through and get one of those big draws that everyone dreams about, says Jamie Day

WELLING UNITED player-manager Jamie Day says the financial stakes are high going into their FA Cup winner-takes-all showdown at Maidstone United on Saturday.

The Wings are in seventeenth-place in the Vanarama Conference and have been drawn away to Ryman Premier League leaders Maidstone United in the Fourth Qualifying Round.

The game has been made all-ticket and famous trophy will be on show at the Gallagher Stadium.

“It is a tough game away from home against a good manager and a team that are doing really well in their league, so we know that we’ve got to perform like we’re capable of doing to get through,” said Day.

“If we don’t, they’ve got some players who have played at a higher level who will take advantage of that.

“We’re confident if we play well as we have in recent weeks and we have to take that into Saturday and get the right result.”

The Wings are two divisions higher than Jay Saunders’ side and Day wants his side to take advantage of that.

“It’s a Kent derby and there will be a good atmosphere and a game the players want to play in as well,” said the midfielder.

“Look at it both ways, it (The FA Cup) gives you an opportunity to get someone lower but you can get beat by someone lower.

“It has its swings and roundabouts. The aim is to get through to the next round.

“Obviously the advantage of playing in the Conference is you start at a later stage than the other clubs. Maidstone have picked up some nice prize money along the way and got good form in the league.

“They will be looking forward to the game and they come into it as slight underdogs but they’re top of the league and playing extremely well so it’s not going to be an easy game.

“But if we perform like we can do, I feel we’re good enough to get the result and move into the next round.”

Maidstone United have scooped £15,000 in prize money after getting past Littlehampton Town (10-0); Brentwood Town (2-1) and Biggleswade Town (2-0) and there is a further £12,500 up for grabs this weekend.

“I’m not going to hide the fact that we could do with the money,” admitted Day.

“It’s a lot of money for a game of football. We want to get through this round and into the next round. The only way we can do that is play to our full potential and doing that on Saturday.

“There’s some good prize money at stake. Hopefully we play well, get through to the first round proper and get that prize money.

“Maidstone’s a well-supported club anyway, they average 1900-2000 so it will be a full-house and all-ticket so we’ll get half the gate money, which is nice and we want to try and get the winning money along with that and help the club out.”

Reflecting on the world-famous FA Cup, Day said: “Everyone my age and older will say the FA Cup is the best Cup competition in the world and I’ve played in it as well. It’s a fantastic competition and gives clubs at all levels an opportunity to progress.

“We want to get through and get as far as possible and get one of those big draws that everyone dreams about.”

Visit Welling United’s website: www.wellingunited.com

Maidstone United  v  Welling United
The FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round
Saturday 25^th October 2014
Kick Off 3:00pm
at James Whatman Way, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1LQ