LOWESTOFT Town will hope their cup-fighting qualities come to the fore again at Brentwood Town in the FA Trophy this afternoon.

The Trawlerboys trailed 2-0 at home to Tilbury on Tuesday in the second round of the League Cup entering the final minute of the match at Crown Meadow.

Goals from Joe Clarke and Stuart Ainsley, both coincidentally after Jamie Forshaw efforts came back off a post, took the tie to a penalty shoot-out which saw goalkeeper Jake Jessup save three of the visitors’ four spot kicks as Lowestoft went through 3-1 on penalties.

Ryman League Premier Division Lowestoft will start favourites to win today against their Division One North opponents who, like the Suffolk side, lost in the end-of-season play-off final in their respective divisions last season.

Needham Market, who have released midfielder Ryan Foster from his two-year contract, enter this afternoon’s tie at Redbridge having scored 24 goals in their last four matches.

The club’s director of football Andy Gould said: “We have won four games on the spin for the first time this season and seem to have hit on a winning formula. The introduction of Jose Espinosa and Angelo Harrop at this point in time has made a big difference to us.”

Today sees the first of two meetings in the space of four days between the two clubs, who come face-to-face again in the league on Tuesday at Bloomfields.

After defeating Great Wakering Rovers 6-1 in the last round and only losing to a late goal at higher-league opposition Eastbourne Borough in the FA Cup last Saturday, AFC Sudbury will be looking to continue their recent upturn in fortunes at Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division side Arlesey Town, who are four off the foot of the table after winning Division One Central last season.

Bury Town, buoyed by the signings of former Ipswich Town pair Wayne Brown and Billy Clark, travel to Aveley. The Blues, who have moved up to seventh, will fancy their chances of progress at their fellow Ryman League Premier Division opponents, who are currently sixth from bottom with just two wins in 12 league outings.

Ryman League Division One South Merstham host Maldon & Tiptree in the Trophy while Heybridge Swifts visit Chatham Town, who are one place above them in 12th position, in Ryman League Division One North.

Leiston, who this week made striker Lee McGlone available for loan or free transfer with immediate effect, are in Ryman League Division One North action tomorrow at Romford, who groundshare with Aveley.

Rhys Henry scored on his debut for Mark Morsley’s side in the midweek 3-0 win at home to Waltham Abbey in the Ryman League Cup after signing from Harlow. The match also saw the return of Luke Hammond to Leiston, after his summer move to Heybridge Swifts as Morsley looks to strengthen his squad.