Faversham joint-boss Jermaine Darlington has highlighted the importance of the FA Trophy ahead of their Second Qualifying Round tie.

Town visit FC Romania, mid-table in Southern League Division 1 Central, this Sunday having already claimed a 1-0 victory at league rivals Chichester in the competition.

The Lilywhites were knocked out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle this season and so with the winner of the tie pocketing £2,250 in prize money, the FA Trophy - in which the club last season reached the First Round in their best-ever run - has taken on even greater significance.

“Cup games at this level are vital for the club with the money that comes with them,” said Darlington.

“The further we go, the more money we get and it puts the club in a better position. It shows the club in a good light as well.

“The league is the bread and butter, but a good cup run is vital for any club in any league. We definitely want to go as far as we can.

“We are looking at the Trophy as being very important. Every time we play in it, we try to get to the next round.”

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On what he knows about FC Romania, Darlington, in charge alongside John Embery, added: “I don’t know anything about them. But I’m the sort of person who doesn’t concentrate too much on the other side.

“We will have people who have watched them and have a bit of information about them.

“Once we know that, we will put a plan together to try and beat them. And if we stick to the game-plan, I feel we can get a win.”

Third-bottom Faversham lost 1-0 to VCD in Isthmian South East on Saturday before unbeaten early frontrunners Ramsgate proved too strong for the Lilywhites on Tuesday, earning a 3-1 win despite playmaker Nathan Wood’s third goal this season.

The midweek match also saw striker Junior Aikhionbare make his first Faversham appearance. While Darlington was pleased with what he saw from him and took positives from the game, he accepts they quickly need to start winning more league games having taken just three points from six fixtures.

He said: “For the most part, I thought we were on top in the game but you need results.

“When we do put together passes - that’s the way we want to play - I don’t see many teams being able to compete with us. But football is about results at the end of the day.

“We are playing well but the results are not showing it. Once they do, I think we can climb that league.

“With regards to Nathan, he has been brilliant. Jake Embery has come in, as well, and Junior Aikhionbare played on Tuesday. He is a handful, very strong, and was an integral part of it. He held the ball up well and allowed others to make runs.

“If we can keep our players fit, we can do well. But we do need [better] results.”

It was a similar story against VCD too.

Darlington added: “We need to concentrate for 90 minutes. We have little lapses in concentration and that’s where they got their goal from.

“I think we definitely deserved something out of the game. Once we start getting a couple of clean sheets, I think we will go on a bit of a run.”

Faversham host Margate in the Kent Senior Cup on Tuesday.