Doswell: ‘You’re an idiot if you don’t think Cray Valley are stronger than their division suggests’

That's the assessment of Hawks manager Paul Doswell ahead of the club's first appearance in the first round since 2014 on Sunday.

Cray operate at Isthmian League South East Division level, yet Doswell underlined the quality of players within their squad should be playing much higher.

Ade Yusuff, who has netted six times in the five rounds Valley have played to get this far, joined from National League Dover in the summer.

Meanwhile, midfielder Connor Dymond came through the ranks at Crystal Palace and was at Hawks' league rivals Welling United last term.

Doswell also cited the fact Kevin Watson's troops came from two goals down to win 3-2 at National League Maidenhead in the last round as another glimpse of their potential.

In a previous qualifying round, they had also won 5-1 at higher division Walton Casuals, who play the same Southern Premier League South as Gosport Borough.

Although admitting it was a tie that his team would expect to win 'nine times out of 10', Doswell insists Cray should be operating at a higher level with the squad they have.

‘The players they’ve got playing for them should not be playing at that level,' said the Hawks boss.

'You’ve got to be some sort of idiot if you look at their team and don’t realise they’re stronger than their division suggests.

‘They went to Maidenhead, which is a tough place to go at any time, and won 3-2.

'These levels between where their players could play and where we’re at is not very big at all.

‘That’s why we don’t necessarily see ourselves as massive favourites and them as underdogs.’

‘We just see it as another game of football because of the quality they’ve got.'