Rye prepare for crack at Vase

Rye will make their bow for 2012/13 with a far from easy first round proper tie at home to Horley Town, kick-off 3pm.

The Quarterboys enjoyed an amazing run to the quarter-finals in the 2010/11 season when they won seven matches away from home, but fell at the first hurdle last term at home to Three Bridges.

Scott Price, Rye’s manager, said: “After that run we had it’s hard not to think about it. It’s massive for the club. I want to have a good run in it again; it’s a great competition.

“But definitely at the moment it’s one game at a time, especially the way we’re defending. In that competition it will be game over; we won’t be going to places and scoring four or five goals.”

Rye are second in Sussex County Football League Division One with 27 points from 13 games, while Horley are seventh in the equivalent-standing Combined Counties League Premier Division with 20 points from 10 matches.

Horley have already come through two rounds, winning 2-1 in a local derby away to Sussex Division One high-flyers Redhill and 4-1 at home to Sussex Division Two side Seaford Town.

“It’s a game we can win,” continued Price. “I don’t know a lot about them, but they went to Redhill and won so they’re not a bad outfit.

“On paper would we be favourites? I don’t know because I don’t know a lot about them, but a lot of teams would think we are.”

Rye’s last two games have produced 15 goals, with Saturday’s 4-3 win away to Lancing being followed by a 6-2 thrashing of St Francis Rangers on Tuesday night.