Witham Town manager Adam Flint expects to name a strong side as his team host Ilford in the Essex Senior Cup third round at the Village Glass Stadium tonight.

The Town boss said he saw the County Cup as a competition as one that his side could gain benefit from having seen the effect of a strong run on other clubs last year.

He said: "I saw what it did for Heybridge when they had a really good run to reach the final last year.

"I went to the final and they could have won it.

"It's an opportunity for us to give a few boys a run out who may not have been playing, but we will go strong.

"There's a chance that you could get a draw against the bigger boys like Colchester, Southend, Chelmsford or Braintree and that's a real incentive."

Flint said he expected to be without Braintree Academy players Luke Mallett and Kofi Gyebi, who have been playing in Ryman League division north for Witham recently, as he thought they may be involved in the Essex Senior Cup for the Iron.

Braintree are also in third round action tonight and will be hosting Ryman League division north leaders Maldon & Tiptree at the Ironmongery Direct Stadium.