We will attack the Horley Town game full of confidence and endeavour and will look to progress into the FA Vase First Round proper for three straight years running, says Holmesdale boss Lee Roots

HOLMESDALE manager Lee Roots says he has done his preparation for their FA Vase tie at Horley Town tomorrow.

The Bromley based outfit are currently sitting in eighth-place in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table with 10 points from eight games.

“On the whole we have been quite satisfied with the start to the league campaign,” said Roots.

“We have had two loses in eight games and that shows how solid we have been within our shape and we have been very hard for teams to break down, with one of the loses coming by just a one-goal margin in the 90^th minute.

“I have brought in some incredibly young and hungry talent this season, whom under my stewardship at the club these players will be presented with the opportunities needed to progress their talents.

“The mix of experience and youth within the squad has allowed the players to keep delivering more each week we play.”

Reflecting on Holmesdale’s 5-0 defeat at now third-placed side Deal Town last weekend, Roots said: “The game didn’t fall the way we would have liked, going down to 10 men just after the hour mark and then conceding three goals in a six minute period, just after that totally killed the game.

“The team performance on the day, where the players matched Deal for over 60 minutes before having a numerical advantage, is very pleasing and bodes well for us moving ahead.”

Roots wants his side to bounce back when he takes them to Holey Town in The FA Vase Second Qualifying Round tomorrow.

Horley Town are in fifteenth-place in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South table, having picked up two wins from seven games.

“Saturday’s fixture always brings great excitement and optimism for everyone involved at the club.  Our opposition play in a different league than us but compete at the same step of the footballing pyramid,” added Roots.

“We have had them watched a few times and have some good reports on them, which we have utilised and worked off in our training preparations this week leading into the game.

“Now listen, league form is irrelevant when you play in cup games, especially if it’s a FA Vase or FA Cup game, but this is not an old cliché – it is completely true.

“We have made sure our approach is correct and we have worked very diligently in our prep work for every game we have played and this will be no different.

“We will attack the game full of confidence and endeavour and will look to progress into the first round proper for three straight years running.”

Roots has enticed former Erith Town striker Fred Obasa to Oakley Road and he is available for selection.

“Fred comes with a great footballing pedigree at this level and within this league. He boasts great experience, hunger, pace and power alongside with his playing talents.

“Fred will go straight into tomorrow’s squad, along with ex-Millwall Academy graduate Amari King.

“This week has seen most of our injured players return to full training and apart from players on suspensions and holidays we have near on a full squad to select from.”

Horley Town v Holmesdale
The Izusu FA Vase Second Qualifying Round
Saturday 24 September 2022
Kick Off 3:00pm
at The New Defence, Anderson Way, Horley, Surrey RH6 8SP