Cup clash is a trip into the unknown for Ton

Kennington are busy getting clued up as they bid to cause an FA Cup first qualifying round upset.

Southern Counties East Ton host a Carshalton side who play two levels above them in the Isthmian Premier. The Robins are a team in form, too, putting an opening day defeat behind them to take seven points from the last nine, all without conceding a goal. Kennington, seven unbeaten themselves in league and cup, know the size of the task at Homelands this Saturday (3pm), and are doing all they can to prepare.

“The players are excited and looking forward to the game,” said manager Dan Scorer. “They’re asking me if I know much about Carshalton and they’re speaking to other players they know to find out what they can. “They’re giving themselves the best opportunity of coming away with the right result. Carshalton have had three clean sheets on the bounce which shows we’ll need to be at our best if we’re going to break them down and have any chance of coming away with anything.

“We’ve got good attacking options and the ability to make changes if things aren’t going our way.

“But it’s more how we set up and are disciplined in our shape because if we do that side of it well, we’re always hard to break down.

“Come Saturday, we want to give ourselves every opportunity to stay in the game as long as possible.

“We’re under no illusions. We know they’re two leagues above us and they should have more quality than us but on the day it all comes down to the attitude of the 22 players on the pitch. “The boys will give it everything they’ve got.

“If they do get their noses in front, especially after three clean sheets on the bounce, a team at their level should be able to keep you out but you never know.

“There may be opportunities or vulnerabilities we can pounce on or they may underestimate us a little bit.” Kennington warmed up for the cup by coming from behind to draw with Glebe and Bearsted over the long weekend.

Robbie Dolan and Liam Middleton scored as Ton battled back from 2-0 to draw with much-fancied Glebe on Saturday. Middleton was at it again on Monday, scoring a last-minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Bearsted. Scorer said: “We showed great character on Saturday, given we went one down inside 10 seconds, or something stupid, and two down inside 15 minutes.

“A lot of people would write themselves off but credit to the boys, we found our rhythm and got back into the game.

“A draw was a fair result but with the chances we had in the second half, we were perhaps unlucky not to get three points.”

Tickets for the Carshalton game can be bought online, priced £7 adults and £4 concessions, at trybooking.co.uk/ BFNA.

Cash payments can also be made on the turnstiles.

Picture: Paul Davies Kennington at full stretch against Glebe on Saturday