BRENDON King is anticipating a “tough and physical” battle when Hamworthy United visit Baffins Milton Rovers in the quarter-final of the Wessex League Cup tonight.
Hammers, 16th in Wessex Premier, enjoyed their best result of the season when they toppled fourth-placed Sholing 3-1 on Saturday.
However, King will have to do without cup-tied Mark Ford, who scored twice on debut against the Boatmen, along with a host of regulars for the encounter with the Wessex One title contenders.
He told the Daily Echo: “This is a massive chance for us. We’re not going to be promoted and, if we were to finish mid-table, that would be fantastic. So if we were to win, it would give us something big to play for in our season. It’s a massive game for us.
“The Sholing win would have given us some momentum if I could play the same side but I can’t. We’re down to the bare bones."
King is especially conscious of the need to avoid complacency in light of the stern test Baffins' rivals Laverstock & Ford gave Hammers in the previous round.
“Going to places like this will always be tough and physical," he added. "We’ll have our work cut out. Laverstock were a decent side and this will be a hard game."
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