McKimm’s cup focus

Tonbridge

Manager Steve McKimm is more than willing to put a top-of-the-table clash on hold if it means Tonbridge stay in the FA Cup. Angels go to Wingate & Finchley in the second qualifying round tomorrow (Saturday) and, as long as no replay is required, they’ll host Ryman League, Premier Division leaders Leiston on Tuesday night. Both sides are unbeaten, with Leiston above Angels on goal difference. It’s an exciting prospect but if it’s postponed in the event of an FA Cup replay, that’s fine with McKimm. Angels beat Wingate 3-0 in the league on the opening day but that means nothing now. McKimm said: “Anything can happen on the first day. I’m not reading too much into that. “Wingate have got players back from injury, they have a nice pitch and use it well. “Money is the main thing in the FA Cup. There’s £4,500 in this round and we want to stay in it as long as possible. “It’s going to be difficult and if we came back with a draw I wouldn’t be displeased, even if that meant we had to postpone Leiston. “We’ve got to play Leiston home and away at some point. “My main priority at the moment is getting a result in the FA Cup. “If we need a replay on Tuesday to get through, so be it.” Craig Dundas, Angels’ new loan signing from Sutton, set up a first-half winner for Luke Allen as McKimm’s men won 1-0 at Sudbury last Saturday. Dundas then played 90 minutes on Tuesday night as Luke Blewden’s late goal gave Tonbridge a 1-0 win at Folkestone in the League Cup first round. McKimm said: “Paul Doswell (Sutton manager) asked if I’d be interested in taking Craig for a month. “I’ve worked with him a lot and he needs minutes. “He’ll go back into Sutton’s side once he’s match-fit and, for us, it was a no-brainer to get him in. He’s played over 400 games for Sutton, scoring 150-odd goals. “He’s a genuine footballer who works hard and enjoys his football. Everyone else in my squad is like that so he fits the bill.”