Halstead Town have already shown that they know how to deal with higher-placed opponents in cup competitions this year and their return to FA Vase action will give another opportunity to show what they can do today.

Having dispatched Thurlow Nunn League premier division side Haverhill Rovers in the previous round, the Humbugs head to Essex Senior League outfit Sporting Bengal United in the second qualifying round tomorrow.

But even though they are up against a team who play in a tier above them in the non-league pyramid, Halstead head into the tie full of confidence.

They won their last Thurlow Nunn League division one game 2-1 against Woodbridge Town last weekend and had a victory against another Essex Senior League side – Takeley – in the Essex Senior Cup before that.

Manager Mark Benterman said: “We have lost just two in 11 and that’s fantastic considering that we’ve had eight or nine new players come into the squad since the end of last season.

“So we go to Sporting Bengal full of confidence and we’ll be giving it our best shot.

“We’ve had them watched a couple of times so we know what type of team they are.

“They play with a high intensity and with good movement both on and off the ball, which is pretty similar to us.

“So I think it will be a great game to watch."