There will be more than just Ryman League Cup progression at stake when Witham Town travel to Maldon & Tiptree tonight.

Kimble family pride will be very much on the agenda as twin brothers Garry – of Witham – and Alan – of Maldon – will be going head-to-head in an intriguing managerial sub-plot on the sidelines.

Garry will lead his Witham side as he has for the last three seasons, while Alan will be taking charge of Maldon for the first time for their Robert Dyas League Cup first round clash after being appointed Jammers boss this week.

A prior commitment meant Alan couldn’t make Saturday’s Ryman One North match at Redbridge, which Maldon lost 4-1, so in an ironic twist of fate, the ex-Wimbledon defender’s his first game in charge will see him facing his twin brother in the opposing dug out.

And Garry is expecting a competitive – and possibly confusing – evening on and off the pitch.

He said: “We have always been hugely competitive as we both want to win everything, be it tennis, snooker, football or tiddlywinks.

“So it’s going to be very strange going up against him like this.

“We only ever faced each other once when we were playing football.

“He was left-back at Cambridge and I was playing right winger for Doncaster, but I changed sides as we didn’t want to have to tackle each other.

“We are identical twins – we look exactly the same and even sound the same.

“Our mum and dad have trouble telling us apart on the phone so I don’t know how the players from both sides are going to get on with dealing with instructions from the touchline!”

Witham head into the game on the back of a 2-1 win at Leatherhead in the premier division, but even before they face Maldon, their thoughts are turning towards an even bigger game on Saturday.

Having beaten Lewes 4-2 in the FA Cup to match the club’s furthest-ever progress in the competition, Witham booked a third qualifying round date at Needham Market this coming weekend and Garry said he will have that game high in his list of priorities.

He added: “My eyes will be more on the FA Cup than beating Maldon if I’m totally honest as the game at Needham is probably the biggest in Witham’s history.

“We will play to win at Maldon, but I’m likely to rest a few players.”