K SPORTS V HOOPS FA VASE PREVIEW

The Hoops are back in cup action this Saturday when they travel to Aylesford to take on K Sports in The Buildbase FA Vase second qualifying round.
And manager Derek Hares, whose side had a bye in the first qualifying round, said: “There’s always a little bit more excitement about the Vase because we are still the only Kent club to have won it, and Saturday’s game is even more important for us now after being knocked out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle by Whitstable.”
K Sports are in the same league as Deal this season after finishing runners-up in the Southern Counties East League first division last season. They have found life in the top flight fairly tough going so far, with just four points from their opening five matches, but “the Paperboys” gained a confidence boost in the Vase first qualifying round a fortnight ago with a 2-0 victory at Southern Combination League side Hassocks.
Hares added: “Because K Sports are new into our league we don’t know a lot about them. They play on a 3G pitch, which they should be used to, but it’s a game we’ve got to be looking to win.”
Harry Alexander and Steve Butcher return to the squad on Saturday but Harris Rodgers is away.