Kevin Watson says it would be naive to think Cray Valley face an easier task in the FA Cup first round.

The Millers fought back from 2-0 down to sink National League Maidenhead 3-2 in the final qualifying round on Saturday.

Their next opponents, National South Havant, play a level below the side they’ve just beaten but Watson knows his Isthmian South East team have it all to do.

Hawks manager Paul Doswell led former club Sutton to the fifth round a few years ago, their run ended by Arsenal, and the squad includes ex U’s players.

Watson, whose side travel to Westleigh Park next weekend, said: “You do take confidence from beating a National League team but it would be naive to assume it’s going to be any easier against Havant because it won’t be.

“Any team who are strong in their league, like they are, are often competitive in the league above.

“It will be a difficult proposition. They’re a big aspirational club who are looking to go up, they’ve got an experienced manager who’s had a lot of success and experienced players at that level and above.

“It’s going to be difficult but if you get to this stage of the competition you expect a difficult game.”

The Millers’ fightback at Maidenhead, which secured a first-round place for the first time in their history, was one of the stories of the round.

It looked like a routine win for the Magpies when they opened up a two-goal lead but Ade Yusuff and Connor Dymond squared the tie.

Reserve goalkeeper Joe Docherty saved a penalty with seven minutes left and substitute Francis Babalola scored a last-gasp winner.

This was against a Maidenhead side who’d beaten National League giants Notts County in their last game, a match Watson went to see.

“I went up to Nottingham to watch that game, which was a difficult decision because we were playing in the Trophy,” said Watson.

“They won 3-2 and they beat Wrexham before that but I just felt if we applied ourselves on the day we could cause them problems.

“At 2-0 down and decisions going against us you start to think it’s stacked against you but I still didn’t feel the game was done.

"We got one back and then we equalised before half-time which was really important.

“Our reserve goalkeeper saved the penalty and Francis Babalola comes on as sub and scores the winner.

“You could literally write a book about that game.”

Penalties were looming when Babalola popped up with the decisive goal.

“It was funny because Tommy Osborne (assistant boss) came up to me towards the end and mentioned penalties," added Watson.

“He said, ‘Do we need to do anything in preparation?’ and I turned to him and said I just felt there was going to be another twist.

“I didn’t necessarily think it was going to go our way - it could have been them - but the game was to and fro and it just didn’t feel like it was done.

“It’s a good milestone for the club to get through to the first round.

“We are a relatively small club in terms of level of support, which is frustrating at times because we hope for more and we create a nice environment to visit.

“But we’re a close-knit club, the committee and the associates work hard and I always say cup moments are for them and the players as much as anything else.

“As a management team we’re always judged on the league, which isn’t going great at the moment.”

• FA Cup first round draw

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