EP set sights on national stages of Vase

EP host Rye, who have a rich history in the competition, at The Lashmar in the third round, with a place in the last 32 and £1,500 prize money up for grabs.

The home side head into the game unbeaten in 16 matches and with 21 wins from 25 matches, including a penalty shoot-out success, this season.

But Di Paola is expecting a tough game against fellow County League Division 1 opposition and said: “They are a good side and it’s a mystery to me why they are where they are in the table.

“I’m looking forward to it – the club hasn’t got this far in the competition before and it’s a chance for us to get into the national rounds.

“I’m going to watch Rye this week as they’ve signed a couple of players since I last saw them and the less surprises about them, the better.

“I’ll have a good look and will make sure the boys are prepared about what Rye will be about. We have a good idea, though, they’ll be big, combatitive and physical and will have a lot of experience.

“We have to deal with all of that and then it’s about what we do. It will all be about who turns up on the day.

“I don’t think all the best teams in this weekend’s games will get through – it will be the teams with the best mindset on the day who get through.

“They may come looking for the draw as then we’ll have to travel down there midweek but we’ll see.”

EP eased into the third round of the competition with a 4-0 victory away to Combined Counties League Division 1 side Knaphill. They had won 1-0 at Farnham Town in the first round.

Rye just missed out on the last 16 of the competition last season, as they were beaten 6-5 in the fourth round by Guernsey – although they made the quarter-finals in the 2010-11 campaign.

EP are without midfielder Kevin Keehan, who is suspended. The game kicks off at The Lashmar at 3pm. If the game is drawn, the replay will be at Rye on Tuesday.