ROB Small is relishing the challenge of attempting to guide Bowers & Pitsea into the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in the club’s history.

Bowers are set to welcome Isthmian South East outfit Chichester City to the Len Salmon Stadium for an exciting fourth qualifying round tie tomorrow.

Despite already leading Bowers on a record-breaking run in the competition, Small would be less than satisfied to see the Isthmian Premier League club’s FA Cup journey end this weekend.

The Bowers boss said: “When I first took over, the club had never even made it to the first qualifying round.

“We achieved that aim in my first year in charge and we played Witham Town.

“But we are now 90 minutes away from the first round proper and it’s exciting.

“However, at the same time, you can’t be satisfied with the fourth qualifying round when you have come this far.

“We are not going to pat ourselves on the back for getting this far because we want to get into the first round for the first time in the club’s history.”

National League sides came into the competition at this stage and supporters are seeing this as an ideal opportunity to reach the first round after avoiding all of the top seeded teams.

Chichester are seventh in the Isthmian South East standings and are only two points adrift of the play-off places.

Bowers, meanwhile, dropped into the Isthmian Premier League relegation zone following their last-gasp 2-1 defeat at Hornchurch last weekend.

And, with clubs from Leagues One and Two coming into the FA Cup at the next stage, Bowers fans are daring to dream of seeing their side facing former Premier League sides such as Sunderland and Portsmouth.

But admits overcoming Chichester will not be an easy task.

“It’s a brilliant draw for us but, at the same time, it’s a brilliant draw for Chichester as well,” added Small.

“There are only eight teams between us in the pyramid if you look at our current league positions and it’s as good a draw for them as it is for us.

“It’s a winnable game for both teams and it’s a case of us hoping that we will be the better team.

“The draw has been kind to us but you can only beat what’s in front of you.”