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Gills duo fit to face minnows

Paul Smith missed the midweek game at Hartlepool through illness
Paul Smith missed the midweek game at Hartlepool through illness

Burscough v Gillingham

GILLINGHAM face Burscough in the FA Cup first round on Saturday boosted by the return of two key players.

Tom Williams picked up a knock during the midweek defeat at Hartlepool and had to be replaced but he is likely to be fit, while on loan midfielder Paul Smith has recovered from illness and has received permission from Walsall to play.

More good news for Gills fans is that manager Neale Cooper's FA Cup record against non-league opposition is unblemished. Whitby, Burton Albion and Aldershot were all overcome while Cooper was at Hartlepool, with the club reaching the third and fourth rounds during his spell at Victoria Park.

Assistant boss Ronnie Jepson is confident the players have the quality to beat their opponents, who are currently fourth in the Unibond League Premier Division.

He said: "It's a dream for a lot of players to play in the FA Cup and they should be looking forward to it. We know we will be in for a high tempo game. A lot of their lads will think they should be playing professional football and will be out to prove a point.

"There will be tackles flying in and they'll be in our faces. Burscough will see the match as a possible giant-killing act but if we approach the game in the right manner, we'll come out on top."

* KENT ONLINE WILL BRING YOU ALL THE CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS AHEAD OF KICK-OFF, A HALF-TIME UPDATE AND A FULL-TIME MATCH REPORT, PLUS REPORTS AND RESULTS FROM ALL THE OTHER GAMES INVOLVING THE COUNTY'S MAJOR SIDES, ON SATURDAY.

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