WITHAM Town manager Marc Benterman is under no illusion of the task that his team face in heading to Ashford United in the preliminary round of the FA Trophy on Saturday.

Despite a 2-1 defeat by Cray Valley last weekend, Ashford have made an excellent start to the BetVictor Isthmian League division south east season, winning their opening five games in the league and sitting third in the table.

Striker David Smith has 11 goals, including one last weekend, and Benterman knows his team will have their hands full if they want to progress into the first qualifying round.

He said: “We had Ashford watched last weekend and we know they’ll be tough.

“They had won five from their first five in the league so they are flying and have a striker who has scored eight in five games.

“We know what we will get."

However, Benterman feels that his team have nothing to lose from the tie and just wants his players to impose their play on the hosts as they did in a strong finish to their BetVictor Isthmian League division north encounter with Aveley last weekend.

Benterman added: “It’s on an artificial pitch as well so we know what it’s about, but it’s a free hit for us.

“We are the underdogs, however, we can’t keep using that.

“We have to go there and try to implement the way we want to play.

“You saw that more in the second half against Aveley; it may not have been pretty to watch as it was quite direct but we have to make sure we are making the right decisions at the right times."