Knight Looks Ahead To FA Cup Tie

By Ryan Day

Margate Defender Lewis Knight says the squad will use Tuesday evenings defeat to Hornchurch as motivation ahead of Saturdays Emirates FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round fixture away at Merstham.  

The Blues suffered their first defeat of the season at Hornchurch 2-1, but Knight says the squad will look to bounce back straight away.  

“We are up for Saturday. We were probably lucky to earn the replay in the first qualifying round but then we done the job in the replay”.  

“After Tuesday's defeat we have to stay grounded and never get too high when we win and too low when we lose. We will work hard at training then we will be ready on Saturday”.  

The FA Cup needs no introduction to supporters across the country and Knight says it is a “massive” competition for the club.  

“It is obviously huge for the fans but also for us as players to say we have played in it. The competition can be huge for clubs at this level for financial reasons and it runs alongside the league so it is massive for us and we will be ready for Saturday at Merstham”.  

Tuesday evening's loss was frustrating for Knight and his team mates, however he admits that the players have been impressed with their own start this season.  

“Hornchurch are going to be one of the favourites and we knew that going there. We held them for a large part of the evening but look we were never going to go the whole season unbeaten as much as we would have loved to but we need to go again on Saturday and we are ready to do that”.  

The fact that Margate face Merstham who also play in the Isthmian Premier Division in the Emirates FA Cup adds a different dimension to the tie.  

“Normally in FA Cup games you have an underdog like Thame were who have nothing to lose but the fact they are in our league means it will almost be like a league game but the Gaffer will have us well drilled and we will be looking to progress”.  

Lewis Knight is kindly sponsored this season Home and Away by Kieron Rocke. 

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