IF Billericay think Havant & Waterlooville are history in the FA Trophy - then they have another thing coming.
Hawks co-boss Mick Jenkins is confident his side can go through, even though they failed to capitalise on home advantage in a 1-1 draw at Westleigh Park on Saturday.
It leaves them facing a tricky replay against the Ryman Premier outfit at New Lodge tomorrow evening, but Jenkins insisted: "Although it's not an easy place to go in midweek, I'm still very optimistic.
"Billericay probably think they've done the hard work by getting us back to their place, but there's a lot more football to be played in this tie yet.
"We've got Dean Blake coming back from suspension and, apart from Shaun Hale who has been picked to play for the Combined Services, we will go there with a full-strength squad."
Billericay were a different proposition this time to the side beaten 3-1 at Westleigh Park in the FA Cup in October.
They rocked the boat ten minutes before the interval when a bizarre mix-up between defender Christian Hanson and goalkeeper Aaron Kerr gifted Jamie Wallace an easy opener.
The Hawks picked themselves up after the break and, after Gareth Hall had been denied by a goalline clearance, it was Timmy Hambley who bagged a well-deserved equaliser after good play by Alec Masson.
But Billericay pushed again and it needed a superb save by Kerr to keep out Wallace's close-range header.
"Billericay gave us a much tougher game this time," Jenkins admitted. "They came here with wounded pride from the FA Cup defeat and gave us a right good fight.
"They showed a lot more resilience than the last time they were here, but I was pleased with the character our boys showed.
"We've got a lot of tough games coming up on the road, so tomorrow night's game will stand us in good stead."
After stringing together seven straight wins, Basingstoke Town had every reason to believe they could make the third round for only the second time in their history.
But their poor Trophy record again came back to haunt them in a 2-0 home defeat by Ryman Premier rivals Sutton United at the Camrose Ground.
Stoke had beaten Sutton in the league in October but it was a different story this time round as their recent good form deserted them and they were sunk by a two-goal strike from Matt Fowler.
United's man-of-the-match put them ahead in the 32nd minute when poor marking gave him the chance to beat 'keeper Scott Tarr from ten yards.
Stoke showed a slight improvement in the second half and a string of corners should have produced an equaliser, but both Steve Hemmings and Ricky Allaway headed decent chances wide.
Southampton-based midfielder Glenn Howes wasted an even better opportunity in the 71st minute, racing clear of the last defender, but shooting badly wide with only 'keeper Andy Pape to beat.
Stoke's punishment came in the 75th minute when Fowler bagged his second with a scissors kick.
Ernie Howe's side tried desperately to retrieve the situation, but substitute Jason Graham failed to beat Pape in a one-on-one and, four minutes from time, Craig McAllister, who had an unusually quiet game, also drew a blank after being put through by the impressive Neville Stamp.
Tomorrow night Stoke host Hampshire League outfit Ringwood Town in the Hampshire Senior Cup third round (7.45).
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