BRANTHAM Athletic boss Pip Boyland is urging his players to go and enjoy their Turners Hyundai Suffolk Premier Cup tie at AFC Sudbury.

The Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division side will enter the first-round tie at the MEL Group Stadium as underdogs against their hosts.

Not only do AFC Sudbury play a level higher in the Isthmian North but they have enjoyed a superb start to the season, remaining unbeaten in the league so far and having reached the Third Qualifying Round of this season’s Emirates FA Cup.

Brantham Athletic have themselves been in good form recently, Joes Santa De La Paz’s fifth goal in three matches earning them a 1-1 draw at Lakenheath on Saturday to make it five matches unbeaten.

Boyland, who took over as manager in January, said: “It is an opportunity for them to go and see what it is like at a level above against opposition who are doing well this season and see where we are at.

“AFC Sudbury are a big club and it will be a free hit for us because there will be a huge difference between their budget and ours, so we can go and enjoy it.

“It provides an opportunity for a potential cup run so we will go and give an honest performance and be able to walk off the pitch, shake our opponents’ hands, look them in the eye and say that we gave it our all.”

The match is one of three first-round ties taking place on Tuesday evening, with two other Step 5 sides also at home.

Walsham-le-Willows, whose manager Trevor Collins resigned last week, entertain Lowestoft Town, who are top of Isthmian North this season.

Lowestoft have won all eight of their league matches so far, the most recent being a 2-0 victory at home to Tilbury on Saturday, while Walsham have lost all their last four league games.

The other tie sees Whitton United host an Ipswich Town XI at King George Vth.

Whitton went down 3-0 at Hadleigh United on Saturday, following on from their 7-0 defeat to Ipswich Wanderers last Tuesday. Whitton United (green & white striped shirts) are pictured above in action against Wellingborough Town (yellow & blue striped shirts) in the Extra Preliminary Round of this season's Emirates FA Cup

Midweek Fixtures

Tuesday

Kick-offs 7.45pm:

Turners Hyundai Suffolk Premier Cup First Round: AFC Sudbury v Brantham Athletic, Walsham-le-Willows v Lowestoft Town, Whitton Utd v Ipswich Town XI.

Portable Space Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup First Round: Debenham LC Res v Cornard Utd Res.