Havant and Waterlooville boss Paul Doswell knows how tough a tie it will be in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round after drawing Bath City away at Twerton Park.

The Hawks found out their fate on talkSPORT 2 this afternoon, with a place in the First Round Proper of the competition at stake for the winner. Doswell believes it is one of the toughest ties which could have come out of the hat.

“My initial reaction is an honest one and it is a horrible draw.” – said the Gaffer. He continued, “they’re a good team, well coached by Jerry Gill and again he’s gone in the loan market and has got some good young players mixed in with the likes of Lloyd James and Ryan Harley”.

“It’s a tough tie, but it’s only a horrible draw if you don’t win, and there’s a big prize for both teams at the end of it with the chance to play in the first round proper and getting a decent draw is what all non-league dream about. But it is also a game I’m looking forward to.” 

The Hawks boss has paid tribute to Jerry Gill’s team, and the job he’s done at the Club since joining. 

“I was very impressed with Bath last year, and whilst we didn’t play them away I watched them a lot, I thought they were the better side against us at home at times and they have beaten Slough away 1-0 which is a really tough place to go and get a result. It’s going to be a hard game but one we can really go there and look forward to.”

Although a place in the First Round is a big achievement for all Non-League Clubs, Dos believes the tightened prize pot means the pressure which comes with the competition is not as intense as recent years.

“I think the pressure has gone a little bit this year if I’m being honest, they’ve halved the prize money and there’s no crowds so I don’t think there’s pressure. As always there’s the excitement of being in the draw on the Monday and the excitement of drawing the likes of Sunderland or Portsmouth in that first round.  We’ll go there on the day and really give it our best shot.”