Cup tie will be stiff early test

Canterbury City

Manager Ben Smith says Canterbury City’s mental state will be key to their hopes of progressing in the FA Cup this weekend.

Smith thinks it’s wrong to start the season with a cup tie but he knows how important a win on Saturday would be.

City face Sutton Common Rovers in the extra preliminary round with the game being played at Banstead Athletic FC.

Smith said: “It’s a weird one. We had it last year as well with the FA Cup on the first day of the season.

“It seems absurd but we don’t get to make those decisions.

“It’s a poorly organised situation but you have to deal with it as it comes.

“It’s hard for the players to really feel like the season’s started. You play so many of these warm-up games and then suddenly you’re thrust into an FA Cup game.

“It’s a big mentality shift and that will be the key for us, making sure we start well in that game. “I’m sure, in the fixtures this weekend, there will be a lot of clubs that score early. Teams will be half asleep in a sense.

“It’s a tough game for us. Looking at Sutton Common Rovers’ results last year, leaguewise, they were inconsistent, which would sum us up too.”

The winners of Saturday’s game will bank £1,500 prize money and go through to host Eastbourne Town or Bearsted in the preliminary round on August 19.

Smith said: “For a club at our level, the prize money is massive.

“For some clubs, that’s what they’ll base their season on, trying to get that money. That will decide whether they can bring in a better player or not.

“But we’re not reliant on a cup run to keep our squad.

“I know some clubs, locally, year after year, do that but I think that’s completely the wrong way to go about it.

“For us, it’s a bonus if we get it and it’s a nice ‘thank you’ to the chairman who’s been excellent over the last two years, trying to push us forward.”

City wrapped up their preseason programme with a 2-1 defeat against Bostik South Faversham on Saturday.

Gary Mickelborough netted on 69 minutes, after Faversham had scored twice in six minutes either side of half-time.

‘It seems absurd but we don’t get to make those decisions’

Pictures: Les Biggs FC Hornchurch keeper Sam Mott prepares to punch clear during the goalless draw against Whitstable at The Belmont on Saturday, and left, Town find two heads better than one

Pictures: Matt Bristow Fm4868221,left; FM4868236 City (maroon) come away with the ball against Faversham in Saturday’s friendly, and below, keep tabs on the home side

Picture: Matt Bristow FM4868213 Herne Bay’s Jarred Trespaderne shadows an opponent from Herybridge Swifts in Saturday’s friendly at Winch’s Field