“We want to stay in it as long as we can.”

That was the message of Hawks boss Paul Doswell as his side booked their place in the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in six years.

A comfortable 3-0 win away to Bath City on Saturday ensured the Hawks would be in the hat for tonight’s draw. Excellent finishes from Tommy Wright, Roarie Deacon and Theo Widdrington also meant the coach journey home was a good one.

After overcoming Horsham, Chatham Town and now Bath, Doswell is eager for this cup run to continue: “I’d like to draw a team that we feel we could progress into the second round. That’s what the journey is all about”.

“I’d love a home draw, I’d love to be on the telly because that’s massive now. I think that would get us 150,000 pounds and that would really set us up for the rest of the season, with that sort of money. But ultimately, I still like the romantic side of the FA Cup. Maybe we go away and get another away win to get into the second round.”

The team travelled up together for the first time the day before the game, and Doswell was full of praise for the idea: “Coming up in the day yesterday helped, we haven’t been together as a group and I think you find a lot more out about each other. The lads were very professional last night. I don’t think you can pay a price for that, we were here ready prepared. Lots of tactical meetings in terms of what they were about, because they are good at home”.

Doswell will know just how magic the FA Cup can be after reaching round five of the competition, with his former Club Sutton United back in 2017. A run that finished at the hands of Premier League giants Arsenal.

The Hawks boss will be hoping that this could be the start of a similar run. His team and fans will be tensely watching the draw tonight as the likes of Portsmouth, Sunderland and Ipswich are in the hat with them.

By Ryan Honey