TWO Essex sides face tricky games in the FA Cup 3rd qualifying round today, with Chelmsford City travelling to Dartford and Heybridge Swifts taking on Farnborough.

Tricky ties

for Essex

sides

TWO Essex sides face tricky games in the FA Cup 3rd qualifying round today, with Chelmsford City travelling to Dartford and Heybridge Swifts taking on Farnborough.

Swifts boss Wayne Bond is under no illusions about the tough task facing his side against the unbeaten Southern Premier Division high flyers.

He said “It's our biggest game of the season by a long shot. The draw couldn't have been any harder.”

The stakes are high for the Swifts with �7,500 worth of prize money on offer as well as the knowledge that a win could put them within ninety minutes of the Coca-Cola Football League clubs in Round One, including Leeds United, Norwich City and Southampton.

Thomas is hoping Luke Fisher, Jeff Shepperd and Phil Goodwin will overcome injuries and suggested there may be some unexpected team selections: “We've been chopping and changing all season and without giving away our tactics our starting eleven may surprise a few people,” he said.

Meanwhile Chelmsford City head coach, Glenn Pennyfather believes it will be the “desire” of his squad that will determine whether the Clarets are able to defeat runaway Ryman League Premier Division leaders Dartford today.

In one of the ties of the round, Chelmsford pay a visit to their old rivals at Princes Park with the Darts sitting at the top of the Ryman Premier having finished eighth last season in their first campaign back at that level. The Clarets are yet to play at Dartford's new home and a large crowd is anticipated.

Pennyfather, whose team come through Thursday night's training session without any serious injury worries, is upbeat about his team's chances and explained: “We have plenty of positives in the squad at the moment, but nothing more so than the desire factor - we've got that in abundance.”