Cup fever grips Colston Avenue

Cup fever has gripped the Ryman Premier’s Colston Avenue this week as Carshalton Athletic look to continue their progress in the FA Trophy, writes James Barrett.

The Robins play host to Ryman South Whitstable Town on Saturday in the FA Trophy’s Third Qualifying Round and interim manager Ian Hazel, pictured, believes his side is ready to continue their good form in the competition.

Hazel said: "We aren’t taken anything for granted but we are at home and we are in good form at the moment. We have a youthful squad but I cannot question the effort and commitment I’ve seen since taking over and we've done well to win in the previous two rounds."

Carshalton made it into the quarter-final draw in 2012 before being knocked out by eventual finalists Newport County. Hazel says he has warned the Robins to take nothing for granted if they want to do half as well this year.

"We beat Lincoln City 3-1 along the way so I’ve told the lads I expect us to get into the First Found Proper and then who knows what may happen," said Hazel. "Whitstable have won a couple of games lately however and will be up for this, so we have no room for complacency."

Athletic’s interim boss says he has decided to stay on ‘at least until the start of December’ after resigning last month. Since then he has guided Carshalton on a run of just two defeats in their last seven outings and has also strengthened the squad, most notably with midfielder Lewis Taylor re-joining from Conference South outfit Whitehawk last week.

Hazel believes they are now in much better shape and added: "We’ve lost a lot of big players over the past month and, although the youngsters have stepped up to the plate, we have brought Lewis in to bolster our midfield options. We also have the likes of Tony Cuff, Simon Mensah and Ben Kudjodji giving us options in attacking areas."

Third Qualifying Round ties involving Ryman League clubs

Basingstoke Town v Hampton & Richmond Borough
Bury Town v Grays Athletic
Carshalton Athletic v Whitstable Town
Daventry Town v Ramsgate
Dulwich Hamlet v Concord Rangers
East Thurrock United v Merthyr Town
Maidstone United v Eastleigh
Margate v Chesham United
Tonbridge Angels v AFC Sudbury
Hayes & Yeading United v Bognor Regis Town (Sunday)
Hendon v Oxford City (Sunday)