New era starts with FA Cup tie
Hawks, Gosport and Moneyfields are all drawn at home
Hawks, Gosport and Moneyfields have all been handed home draws in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup.
Hawks host Isthmian Premier Leaguers Horsham in what will be the first game on the new £500,000 3G surface at Westleigh Park on Saturday, October 3.
The Sussex club were lying seventh in their table when the 2019/20 season was curtailed.
They beat divisional rivals Kingstonian 2-1 in Tuesday’s first qualifying round tie.
Horsham are managed by Dom Di Paola and their main players include ex-Dorking duo Lewis Taylor and JJ O'Sullivan.
New signing Eddie D'Sane scored both goals against Kingstonian, and Horsham have also signed players from Bognor ( Doug Tuck) and Lewes (Charlie Copolla and Tom Day) as they look to mount a promotion bid.
Moneyfields’ reward for their thrilling midweek penalty shoot-out victory at Aylesbury is a tough home tie with higher division Cray Wanderers.
The Bromley-based club were second in the Isthmian Premier when last season went into lockdown, seven points adrift of Worthing but had a game in hand.
It was Cray’s first season in step 3 football after winning the Isthmian South East title in 2018/19.
Winger Jason Banton -a former England under-17 international with EFL appearances for Plymouth and MK Dons to his name - netted twice in Cray’s midweek 3-1 FA Cup win against Fisher Athletic.
Cray had begun their league season with a 5-1 romp against Kingstonian last weekend.
The Kent side knocked Moneyfields out of FA Trophy two seasons ago, drawing 1-1 at Dover Road before winning 4-1 in the replay.
'We have got the home tie we wanted but this won't be easy,' said Moneys boss Dave Carter. 'They are a good passing side with lots of pace.
'We must look to make the most of home advantage and will give it our best shot.’
Gosport will welcome National League North club Hereford to Privett Park on Saturday week.
Borough boss Shaun Gale is under no illusions to the size of the task facing his team.
'It is nice to get a home tie, particularly after going all the way to Tavistock in the last round, but this is a difficult draw,' he said.
'They play a level above us and are an ex-Football League side.
'The important thing is we are at home and will be doing everything that we can to progress.
'We are still allowed fans at our level so I expect Hereford might bring a few.
'It is a one-off cup game and we will aim to give a good account of ourselves.
'The aim for all clubs at our level is to try and get through to the first round. To do that you have to beat good sides. 'Hereford are just that but we also have good players in our team, a number of whom have experience of playing at the higher level.'
The 2020/21 season will be Hereford’s sixth season since forming from the ashes of Hereford United.
After winning three titles in their first three seasons, they have finished 17th and 16th in the sixth tier.
Despite Hereford FC’s short life, they have played Gosport before - beating them 5-1 at home and 4-0 at Privett Park en route to the Southern Premier title in 2017/18.