Bishop’s Stortford drawn away to National League South side Hemel Hempstead Town in FA Cup second qualifying round

Visiting a high-flying Vanarama National League South side in the Emirates FA Cup will be a test of where Bishop’s Stortford are at, says manager Steve Castle.

The Blues have been handed a Hertfordshire derby at Hemel Hempstead Town in the second qualifying round after beating Cornard United 5-0 at the weekend.

Stortford will travel to the Focus Community Arena on Saturday September 14 to take on the Tudors, who are unbeaten this season and sit second in the league above Blues’ Pitching In Southern League, Premier Central Division.

“We’ll approach it with as much positivity as we can,” said boss Castle.

“I know quite a few of the players we’ll be playing against as they’ve come through teams I’ve been associated with.

“They’re good players, a good team and they’ve got a good Conference South set-up.

“It will be a really stiff test for us and it will be a really good yardstick for where we are at this moment in time.”

The Blues beat Cornard, who compete two levels below in the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League, Premier Division, thanks to five goals in a 20-minute blitz from the end of the first half.

Cole Dasilva, Charlie Castle and Brad Russell all netted before Kian Harness bagged a brace in the club’s biggest FA Cup home win in 56 years.

“[Cornard] are a team from a lower level and they did really well to hold on and had a few chances themselves,” said the manager. “It was an even game up until about two minutes before half time.

“Once we got ourselves in front we dispatched them very well.

“Scoring goals and keeping a clean sheet might help to ease some of the anxiety and give us some more confidence in future games.”

The Blues return to Pitching In Southern League, Premier Central action on Saturday (September 7) when they host seventh-placed St Ives Town.

Stortford, who sit 16th, then travel to bottom side Hitchin Town on Tuesday September 10.