Havant & Waterlooville boss Doswell warning against FA Cup complacency against minnows Chatham Town

The Kent club are three divisions below National League South outfit Hawks, and victory at the Draper Tools Community Stadium would be the most embarrassing FA Cup exit in the hosts’ history.

Chatham are scoring goals for fun in their league and Doswell insists: 'We won't be able to take anything for granted.

'They have just installed a 3G pitch and have a chairman who is obviously investing in their club.

'If you look at their team it contains five or six players who have played in the Conference.

'We can't afford to get sucked into thinking they are a step five or six club.

'That is something we need to be very aware of.

'It is important that we get the disappointment of last Saturday out of our system in the first half.'

Hawks conceded two goals in injury time to draw 2-2 with Maidstone in their opening league game of 2020/21 on their new 3G surface.

At the same time, Chatham were taking their Southern Counties East goal tally to 33 in seven games with a 5-1 romp at Beckenham - their 10th win in 11 league and cup games this term.

Chatham have two prolific strikers in their ranks.

Jack Evans was their top scorer with 24 in all competitions last season, and he has 10 already this term.

The only man to score more goals in the league than him in 2019/20 was Sheppey’s Dan Bradshaw.

Bradshaw fired 49 goals in 35 league and cup appearances last season, including 35 in just 27 league games.

Chatham promptly went and signed him in the summer, and he has already netted seven times in as many appearances for the club.

Ahead of the new season, Chatham also recruited winger Ryan Hayes, who scored over 100 goals in a 13-year career with Dartford.

Andy Pugh was also signed from the Darts after a six-year spell there which included over 40 goals.

Chatham were third in the Southern Counties East Premier last season when life went into lockdown.

They were four points behind leaders Beckenham, having played a game more.

Chatham have already won through four FA Cup rounds, culminating in an impressive 3-0 win at Isthmian Premier outfit Folkestone Invicta.

Bradshaw netted twice against two divisions higher opponents with skipper Evans adding a late third.

Hawks v Chatham will be played behind closed doors due to the continuing ban on fans attending ‘elite’ stadia.

'The FA Cup is a great competition for non league clubs like us,’ said Doswell.

'It is such a big shame that there can't be any fans.

'That is beyond strange, baffling and ludicrous in my eyes.

'There doesn't seem to be any logic in it.

'Pompey Ladies can have up to 600 watching when they play at our ground and Clanfield can also have a couple of hundred.

'You can't tell me our supporters would be at any more risk of catching Covid.

'It doesn't feel right and it isn't the same without supporters.’