CORNE HOPING FOR AN ENCORE

SAM CORNE says the Stones just don’t want their FA Cup adventure to end. The midfielder has scored the winner in their last two victories – a penalty against Stevenage and a cool finish to dump Ipswich Town out of the fourth round. And they will travel to Coventry City tomorrow night dreaming of another upset. “The longer it goes on, the more you believe and you become more optimistic,” Corne said. “Don’t get me wrong, when we went to Ipswich we went to enjoy the occasion. Whatever the result, it’s a massive achievement. “But because we won you start going, ‘Cor, is there something there for us?’ “We want to go as far as we can in the competition. If it ends Monday night, it’s been a hell of a ride. But, as a player and a group, we’re a competitive bunch and we don’t want this journey to end.” Corne says the run to the last 16 has been – and still is – a whirlwind. “It’s huge, the biggest moment in my career,” Corne said. “I think before I’d only got as far as round two. “In terms of scoring on big occasions, it’s something that will live with me for a long time. “I think my family have watched my goal more than me. It was a great moment for myself but also my family who were there. It’s a great bit of motivation to show what you can achieve. All that hard work you’ve put in from such a young age, to catch a moment like that is brilliant.” And the former Welling United man thinks it shows the talent in Non-League. “We don’t have the luxury of a massive squad but it just goes to show it’s a game of football, 11 v 11,” Corne added. “Being that underdog and having that bit of belief goes further than you think. “The quality in Non-League is huge. You see so many players go from National League level to the EFL. “That helps us because boys obviously have ambitions of playing at a high level. What an occasion to try and do that.”