TIM Sills heaped praise on his Hammers side when asked for the secret behind their success in recent seasons.

Hamworthy United are currently gearing up for their maiden Southern League season, technically starting their competitive campaign with victory over Shaftesbury in the Wessex Charity Shield last weekend.

It is further silverware to add to an already impressive set of accomplishments for the Hammers since Sills took over in 2019, adding to their Wessex League Cup win in 2021, and the Wessex Premier title they earnt last term.

Sills’ side were also one win away from Wembley earlier this year, reaching the semi-finals of the FA Vase, whilst they also reached the final of the Dorset Senior Cup, where they lost in extra-time to Poole.

The road to Wembley starts again this weekend for Hamworthy, with the County Ground outfit traveling to Hellenic Premier side Bradford Town in the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup (kick-off 3pm).

Hammers have earnt a reputation for being a well-drilled and hard to beat side, a factor Sills believes stems from the players he has at his disposal.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, the former Torquay and Stevenage man said: “It's an interesting one.

“You go into coaching courses and they go, what's your principle?

“And it's just recruitment is crucial.

“If you get the players in that are willing to work as a unit, willing to work together and just there for the enjoyment of the game, it makes everything else so much easier.

“So in terms of us being solid, that's kind of happened because of the players I've got.

“And we've just worked on it and picked on it.

“And now it's making sure that a couple of seasons ago, we were creating chance after chance, we get back to that a little bit, as well while remaining solid.

“So the boys embrace everything we do. I can't fault their effort and their commitment, and it's a pleasure to be in charge of them.”

If Hammers advance to the preliminary round with victory over Bradford on Saturday, they will receive £1,125, and set up a home tie with either Badshot Lea or Brockenhurst.

The qualifying round still operates with replays, meaning if a result cannot be decided on the day, Hammers will host Bradford at the County Ground on Tuesday. The losers receive £375.