Di Paola wants EP to remain focused

EP will host East Midlands Counties League Premier Division side St Andrews in the fifth round on February 15, after a 3-0 win over Brantham Athletic on Saturday.

East Preston are one of two Sussex teams in the fifth round, as Eastbourne United also reached the last 16 with a 7-2 extra-time win at Hanworth Villa on Saturday.

Di Paola knows his players will begin to think about a potential final at Wembley, with the showpiece match just four games away, but he admits there is still a long way to go.

He said: “Of course the players are starting to think about Wembley but I’ve not really thought about it.

“It might be the only chance a lot of these players have to win the competition as, hopefully, we won’t be playing in it next year.

“But we’ve got five games to play before the next round and, although it’s nice to be at this stage, it will mean nothing unless we win it.

“If we get to Wembley, I might start to get excited about it but the league is the most important thing.”

Di Paola is not expecting an easy tie against St Andrews in the next round either as they knocked out one of the favourites, Rushden & Diamonds, in the fourth round.

He said: “They have a very good youth set-up and quite a few of their players have come through their set-up.

“They have an England schoolboy international as well and, if they win their games in hand, they’ll be second in their league and would be top if they didn’t have three points deducted.

“We’ll go and have a look at them, so we’re well prepared but it’s going to be very tough.

“They knocked out Rushden & Diamonds in the previous round and they were one of the favourites for the competition.

“They play in a physical and powerful league, so it’s going to be a big test for us.

“They’re in a league which is equivalent to Eastbourne United (County League Divsion 2), who are also in the last 16, and Eastbourne have a very good team.

“We’ll do everything we can to progress as it’s a national competition and we’ll prepare for it as best we can.”

The match with Brantham on Saturday took place at Lancing’s Culver Road ground as EP’s Lashmar pitch was waterlogged.

Di Paola was thankful for the switch as the game would have been played at Brantham this Saturday had it been postponed again.

He said: “We were very grateful. Martin Gander, the Lancing chairman, is a good football person and it was good of him and for Lancing to do that as they postponed their reserve team’s game.

“We’ve said to them that we will reciprocate for them if they need us to host a reserve or youth team match for them later in the season.”