RINGWOOD Town boss Richard Morse is hoping his side can negotiate “a potential banana skin” when they take on 13th tier Tendown Athletic in the Southampton Senior Cup tonight (kick-off 7.45pm), reports Andy Jones.

Town go into the first round tie after a 2-1 win over Totton & Eling on Saturday, having previously drawn 0-0 with East Cowes Victoria in the Wessex League.

Despite the three-tier gap between the two sides, Morse is very aware Southampton Saturday Premier League leaders Tendown will be no pushovers.

Morse began: “I know a few of their players - a lot of them are former Wessex League players or have played higher, so it could be a potential banana skin for us, but we will approach it like we do every other game.

“I like to think we are positive and optimistic that we can get a result and get through to the next round, but they will be a tough team to beat, make no bones about it, and hopefully we can get a bit of luck again and get through to the next round.”

Morse believes the team can dream big and says the opportunity to play at Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium is a “carrot” for the team to chase.

“I'm hoping so, ”Morse responded when asked if the team can go all the way.

“The final is at St Mary’s so it is a little carrot for the players - I got there as a player myself [to the final] and it was a great day.

“If we can build some momentum and get through you never know, cup games are cup games!

“I'm hoping we can pick up on our league form and take that into our cup form and I am looking at it as another game we can win and keep the momentum going for us into the rest of the season.”