Sheppey United boss Ernie Batten looks ahead to their FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round replay against Billericay Town at Holm Park
Published: 05:00, 17 October 2023
Updated: 08:00, 17 October 2023
Sheppey United head into their FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round replay at home to Isthmian Premier Billericay tonight with nothing to fear, according to boss Ernie Batten.
The teams will do it all again at Holm Park (7.45pm) after a 1-1 draw in Essex on Saturday.
With a place in the First Round at stake - and a home tie against League 2 Walsall - there remains all to play for.
Batten said: “We have got nothing to fear.
“In cup football, it’s all about how you play on the day. You can go through tactics, watch video after video of the opposition, work on things but, at the end of the day, it’s all about how those lads perform for 90 minutes.
“If we can recreate the same performance and the same level from Saturday, then it gives us a good chance.”
A bumper crowd is expected to descend on the island. There were 1,241 in attendance at Billericay, including a healthy away contingent.
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“There will be a few hundred more joining them,” Batten predicted. “It’ll be a fantastic atmosphere as they get behind the side.
“We’ve all seen cup upsets in replays and we’ll be gunning to get that result.”
Isthmian South East Sheppey are only in their second season at the level but look to be going from strength-to-strength as a club.
Batten said: “We’ve been growing over the last few years and the fanbase has been growing.
“I hear many people saying they’ve given up season tickets at Chelsea and Arsenal to come and watch us - I don’t blame them, of course - because they want to see entertaining football.
“They want to see non-league grassroots football. I think that’s what Sheppey gives you.
“We want to play the right way. The right way, I feel, is to play entertaining football.
“We always strive to do that and, if you do that, people will be entertained and want to come back and pay to see it again.”
If the replay is level after 90 minutes again, then extra-time and penalties will be required.
Striker Dan Bradshaw will be monitored. He returned to fitness from a hamstring issue at Billericay but came off in the second half.
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