Chapman in positive mood ahead of Trophy clash with Leatherhead

Hillians’ opponents lie in mid-table in the league above them, the Ryman Premier, having only being promoted last year and Chapman is convinced they can match up to them.

He said: “They were in our league last year. We played them twice and took four points off them, but they have made a lot of changes now.

“They got out of our league and now are doing really well in the league above us. So we have to be at our very, very best.

“With this team, we know when we are at our best we can compete with them, just look at the time when we stepped up against Sutton, Peacehaven and Chesham, all leagues above us and we beat them.

“So We know if we are up for it and play like how we are, we have got a chance.”

Burgess Hill are unbeaten all season in the Ryman South after 17 games and their only defeat has come in the FA Cup match against Conference South side Dartford.

They almost suffered their first loss in the league last Saturday to Hythe Town when they conceded two early goals in the first half, but a goal from Greg Luer and a late strike from Dan Perry rescued them a point.

Chapman admitted they will not stand a chance if they have another slow start, saying: “Our last home game against Hythe we were 2-0 down by 20 minutes and if we do that against Leatherhead, we will get beat. So we got to make sure that we start properly and if we do that we will give them a game.”

Being involved in the FA Trophy brings an influx of prizes for non-league teams and winning this match would mean Hillians are rewarded with £4 000, having already received £8, 450 from the previous rounds.

The Burgess Hill boss says the cup run will benefit his club greatly.

He added: “Out of all of them, the FA Trophy is obviously the biggest one. There is a lot of rewards for it, with money involved, and that is important for a club of our stature.

“So far this season we have put a few quid in the bank, obviously with Greg and also the cup run we had in the FA Cup. But obviously it will be very difficult for us to win that because it goes all the way to the conference, so we were unlikely to win that.

“In the other cups we have the Ryman Cup and the Sussex Senior Cup. Our main priority is the league. To go far in the cups would a bonus.”

Regarding injuries, the manager is not overly concerned as he praised his ‘strong squad’.

He added: “Sam Fisk, the left-back, got a knee injury a couple of weeks ago. Apart from that we have a full squad and that has been the best feature this season and we have roughly kept the same sort of side, and that is important I think to get the continuity as much as we can.”