Magpies boss Cocoracchio promises to give Lewes a game

The Magpies face a showdown with the Rooks at Culver Road this evening with a spot in the final at the Amex at stake.

It’s the County League against the Ryman League and the Premier Division outfit have former Albion manager Martin Hinshelwood in temporary charge after Garry Wilson and Danny Bloor left the club last week.

Cocoracchio knows it will be a tough encounter for his high-flying side, but is hoping they may be able to capitalise on the upheaval at their opponents.

He said: “It will be a very interesting one as they have Martin Hinshelwood and Mark McGhee on their bench.

“They are a team in transition at the moment so who knows what impact that will have.

“They have come in and changed the formation straight away as I had them watched in detail when they got a very good result against Dulwich, who were third - it’s the impact they were looking for.

“We go into the game high on confidence and belief and one thing I can promise them is that they will know they have been in a game.

“The main point is that we have got to this stage to play the quality of opposition in the last four.

“We have to go there and enjoy the occasions and do ourselves justice, if we do that, we cannot be disappointed whatever the result.”

The Magpies have brought in goalkeeper Billy Bishop on loan from AFC Wimbledon’s academy with regularly stopper Sam Smith serving the second of a three-game suspension.

Lewis Scally is also ruled out through an ankle injury, although Matt Hoyte is back after serving a one-match ban in their 2-2 draw with Newhaven on Saturday.

Kick-off at Culver Road is 7.30pm.

The other semi-final between Burgess Hill and Whitehawk takes place next Tuesday.