Punjab United 2-0 Fisher - I thought they wanted it more than us in every department. I'm not ashamed to say it today, they need to take it on the chin like a man but for 90 minutes we wasn't good enough, admits hurting Fisher boss Ajay Ashanike

Punjab United 2 – 0 Fisher
Location	Elite Venue, Dunkirk Close, Gravesend, Kent DA12 5ND
Kickoff	07/02/2026 15:00

PUNJAB UNITED 2-0  FISHER
The Isuzu FA Vase Fifth Round
Saturday 7 February 2026
Stephen McCartney reports from Elite Venue

PUNJAB UNITED coach Lee Roots says his players should be really proud of reaching The FA Vase Quarter-Finals for the first time and challenges them to have a day out at Wembley as well as winning promotion. 

Chipie Sian’s direct side from the Dark Ages grabbed their place in the last eight by scoring two headed goals – their only attempts on target – inside the opening 24 minutes, courtesy of Jack Hopkins’ 14^th goal of the season and left-winger William Johnson-Cole knocking in his eleventh.

Punjab United’s four other attempts on goal during this poor-quality affair came from headed chances, as Fisher failed to replicate their impressive performance that they put in to beat Windsor & Eton on penalties in the last round.

Punjab United threw the ball into the Fisher box on 12 occasions and dominated the corner-count by nine-to-two (eight of the home side’s corners came during a dominant first-half performance and the game was done and dusted after only 24 minutes), as Punjab United extended their unbeaten run to 11 games.

The Gravesend public just haven’t taken kindly to Sian’s ugly brand of archaic football as a crowd of 247 attended the game at Elite Venue and Fisher’s official head count of 103 travelling fans meant only 144 people in a town with a population of around 60,000 people took an interest in Punjab United’s longest run in this national competition.

“I mean, it’s a brilliant day for everyone involved in the club,” said Roots, 42.

“I’m really pleased with Chipie and all the guys that started the club, being a part of their history and now being part of the club recently, it’s brilliant!

“Listen, there’s a lot of pressure that comes into the preparations going into these games as the home side, as well with the weather this morning.

“I think it’s exactly how we thought the game would go.  To go into the Quarter-Finals is really exciting and there’s so much positivity for the club. I thought we deserved it. It’s well deserved and what can happen from here? It’s up to us!

“The players gave everything! I think they really died for the badge.  One of the players had some personal tragedy in the week and I think that drove the lads on a little bit.  The players’ all rallied round for him but I thought the players’ were excellent.

“I thought first half we were very good in the way we set up and the pitch obviously plays in two halves with the slope and I thought we managed it really, really well in the second half.

“But I think the players, especially with what Chip wanted and what we wanted as staff, we wanted them to leave everything on the pitch – we got that!”

Fisher manager Ajay Ashanike cut a disconsolate figure during the post-match press conference, as his side put in a lacklustre performance on an playing surface more suited to the long-ball game.

“Hard one to take, hard one to take.  The upset of the pitch, the game on, the game not on. I think that played a massive part in the boys’ preparation and they need to be more mature than that and it showed today.

“They went direct, we couldn’t cope with it and they got punished for it. What we worked on in training on Thursday was exactly what happened in that game and they need to man up and understand that myself, Jordan (Darwish) and the coaching team knows more than them and it’s a lesson learnt for them.

“We didn’t play to the condition really well.  You could see grass on the pitch but the pitch is not a grass pitch. It’s not what you should be trying to play football on. We made a lot of mistakes. We allowed them to come to the final third and we got punished for it.

“We know what they’re going to do and you know exactly how they’re going to play.  You know they’re going to move and they done it for 90 minutes, so credit to them and good luck to them in the Quarter-Finals and credit.  The only good thing that you can take out of it is at least one of us in the SCEFL Prem is going to be in the Quarter-Finals, which is a good thing.”

Both sides started their FA Vase campaigns in the First Qualifying Round back in August, with Punjab United beating Oakwood (2-0), Wick (3-1), Wembley (1-0), Tadley Calleva (2-1), Burnham (2-1) and Benfleet (2-0).

Fisher, meanwhile, needed three successful penalty shoot-outs to reach the last sixteen for the very first time.  They have beaten Redhill (1-0), Sutton Common Rovers (4-1), Steyning Town Community (3-1 on penalties after a 0-0 draw), Balham (2-1), Fleet Town (8-7 on penalties after a 2-2 draw) and Windsor & Eton (4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw).

Punjab United kicked down the slope during the first half and it took them only 66 seconds to launch the first of their 12 long throws into the Fisher penalty area, with Punjab United’s centre-half Wayne Bushell an evident target at the near-post.

Chris Edwards launched the ball in from within the right-channel, the ball was flicked on by Wayne Bushell at the near-post and central striker Roman Campbell flicked his header over the crossbar.

Punjab United’s first corner came in (2:22) via George Monger’s left-foot from the right and was floated towards the back post where 14-goal striker Roman Campbell steered his free-header sailing over the crossbar from 15-yards.

FC Elmstead sent a couple of representatives to scout the home side ahead of their Kent Senior Trophy Semi-Final here in a couple of weeks.  They just need a couple of centre-halves to defend better than Donald MacAuley and Stephan Richard Kingson did for Fisher today and stop kicking the ball out of play some 35-yards from their own by-line to stand any chance of withstand the barrage of direct play from Sian’s side.

Holding midfielder Monger switched the play out to right-back Kyden Lewin Thomas, who played the ball down the line to Edwards, who floated in a cross from within the right-channel and Roman Campbell’s looping header was plucked out of the air by an untroubled Issac Ogunseri inside the opening nine minutes.

Fisher weathered the early storm and Ogunseri’s big kick was knocked back by Hopkins before Jacob Katonia played the ball into the unmarked Tom Jones, whose left-footed shot from 15-yards was comfortably gathered by Owen Bushell low to his left.

Jones – who failed to recapture the impressive form in Berkshire and against Wingate & Finchley in the London Senior Cup – saw his attempt blocked by Punjab United’s centre-half Wayne Bushell, who put his body on the line to ensure his brother made a comfortable save, as Fisher were to be denied by the home goalkeeper on three occasions today.

“It’s a half-chance. It’s not something I’m proud off to say it’s a half-chance,” admitted Ashanike.

“We huffed and puffed and we couldn’t do nothing, honestly. I thought the keeper done really well to stand up straight. Any other keeper would probably went down and it goes over his head but I thought the keeper was top drawer today.”

Roots said: “Owen and Wayne, the brothers in arms, as you can see there when there was a bit of aggro in the last minute.

“Wayne is absolutely tremendous at this level. He’s a hell of a player and the block takes the sting out of the shot.

“I thought Owen was really, really good. Tom Jones is a very good player for them. They’ve got very good attacking threats. Ajay sets up his side really well.

“We’ve done a lot of homework on them.  We went to watch them away at Windsor and the last couple of games, so we kind of felt we knew how they would come out but you have to nullify them and you need a little bit of luck but the way we threw our bodies at the ball, like you say, I think that optimises what the plan was today.”

It will come as no shock when Punjab United grabbed the lead, following their fourth corner kick, timed at 19 minutes and 37 seconds on the clock.

Right-winger Edwards swung the ball in with his right-foot from the left-flank, a poor delivery, which was headed away by Fisher’s left-back Lorenzo Duncan beside the near-post.

Edwards took a touch and recycled the ball back into the box and MacAuley lost Hopkins in the middle and Hopkins buried his free header into the left-hand corner of the net.

“We scored two goals like it last week (in our 4-1 win at) Erith & Belvedere,” highlighted Roots, who was in the dug-out for the second time, having left Bridon Ropes (manager) to join the management team at Barkingside for two winning games, before joining Punjab United.

“The way Hoppo attacks the ball and the way he leaps in the box is fantastic.

“We were on calls last night with them going through set-pieces with the lads. That’s how professional they want to be as a club and we spoke about those exact moments.  We’re very, very detailed on our set-pieces and that’s all credit to (coach) Ashley Probets and the set-pieces have been outstanding for us.

“Chris Edwards’ deliveries are unbelievable. I think for me it’s the best delivery on either side of the pitch in the League and you put the ball in the right area for the players we’ve got, they’re going to attack it.

“But I thought at that point it was coming. I said it to the staff that the goal was coming and the next cross it happened.”

The versatile Hopkins is very influential and put in a stand-out performance in behind central striker Roman Campbell.

“When the club played Bearsted in the Cup, he came on at half-time and single handedly changed the game,” said Roots.

“He takes up striker positions, he takes us midfield positions. He attacks the ball. He almost reminds me of an old Gus Poyet, the way he attacks into the box. Frank Lampartd was known for it.

“Arguably people say his best position is in front of the back four but the way he’s playing and the way he’s operating within the unit, like you say, 14 goals, I think he’s had a challenge to get 20 and I think if you can get that from an attacking midfield position, it’s exceptional but he’s got so much ability and so much to his game, not just aerially. The way he links up play, he’s really a creative pivot.”

MacAuley (who was turned for Windsor & Eton’s goal at Stag Meadow) is making too many mistakes in a key position of the pitch and his place is now in jeopardy after this poor performance from the number five.

“Jack Hopkins has done his man. Donny needs to be a man and understand that at this level of football, at this stage in the Vase, you’re going to get punished if you do allow your man to go through and head the ball like that and he’s been punished for it today,” said Ashanike.

“He should’ve been the man that marks Jack and he was nowhere to be seen and it’s a free header there.”

It was an example of Punjab United’s players wanting it more than Fisher’s players.

“From the first minute to 90, I thought they wanted it more than us in every department,” admitted Ashanike.

“We got absolutely bullied and I’m not ashamed to say it today. They need to take it on the chin like a man and go again but for 90 minutes we wasn’t good enough!

“Maybe second half we huffed and puffed because we’re going downhill. We didn’t create enough chances. We’re slipping everywhere, footwork wasn’t working. It was a lot of catalyst of mistakes and errors everywhere on the park, which killed us today.”

Monger delivered the home side’s fifth corner deep towards the back post and Wayne Bushell’s towering header only just missed the near-post, as Fisher couldn’t cope with the regular bombardment coming their way.

Punjab United’s second goal came courtesy of a three-man move, with 23 minutes and 47 seconds on the clock.

Monger played the ball along the deck to find Edwards in the right channel and he put it on a plate for Johnson-Cole, who jumped above Richard Kingson to bury his head into the right-corner.

“I thought it was a really beautiful looking goal. The way it hits the net,” said Roots.

“We’re really, really focused on our deliveries and our entries into the box and speaking with Will and the lads, we spoke about them attacking in the box from the wing position and Will’s done that and I’m really pleased for him.

“He didn’t play last week because he was unwell and I think that featured in his game when he kind of faded out after the 60^th minute.

“It was a really good header, really good play from Will.  I think Will’s always a goal threat for the team.  Any time he plays in the box and he’s not one that he scores all the time with his head but the way he attacked the ball but he’s absolutely dining on it and deservedly so.”

Ashanike admitted his side lacked desire and missed out on a massive chance to progress into the last eight.

“Again, that’s another centre-half making mistakes and you can’t keep making mistakes at the back and think you’re going to get away with it, especially when you go to the Last 16 of the Vase.  You’re going to get punished.

“You’re not playing against the boys who you played with in the Qualifying Round. This is when the real things happens.

“It gave us a massive chance. That’s a massive chance for them to go far in this cup with the squad they’ve got and a lack of concentration and a lack of desire killed them today.”

Roots was asked why Monger took no further part in the game (36:42), shortly after being cautioned by referee Richard Wharton.

“It was more of an injury to his foot. Just a little bit where he just collided with the guy (Mbuenimo) for the booking and he’s actually just carrying a little niggle, like a muscle strain before that and when the booking came I think it was probably the right decision to just subtract him from the game. It wasn’t tactical. He’s a great player.”

Owen Bushell was called into action for a second time (37:48), when the quiet Duncan recycled the ball towards the edge of the box, the ball was played back by Flavio Jumo and the unmarked Mbuenimo’s right-footed drive from 30-yards was pushed away by the diving goalkeeper’s right-hand (diving to his right) before gathering the ball the second attempt.

Both Roots and Ashanike were asked why Fisher put in such a lacklustre performance in Gravesend today, a chalk-and cheese turnaround from their recent Cup successes over Windsor & Eton and Wingate & Finchley.

Ashanike said: “Because Punjab didn’t look to play. That made it a lot harder for us to get hold of the ball. When we’ve got it, we tried to play like Punjab. We’re not Punjab. We haven’t got the physicality in us to play like Punjab and this is where we take the ball into the final third, combination and get in the box. That is what we’re made for but we just need to get back on the training pit and see what we can do to help them out as a collective.

“But right now it really, really hurts, especially with Whitstable out now, it makes it even worse for us.”

Roots added: “From what we’ve seen at Windsor, they were much more offensive in that period, especially in that first half. Second half, they dominated it.

“I think a lot of the credit has to go to the game plan set up by Chip, the gaffer, Jason Powell, the management team. The homework we’ve done on them.

“I think it’s a very, very good squad, some really elite superior players in the level. I think Jack Hopkins, Roman Campbell – Harry Ottaway, who didn’t feature today – the attacking threat.

“With the way that we wanted to play and I think them shooting up the slope was a big factor or them and the way we played it, so we didn’t allow them to play. We smothered them a little bit and then once you go 2-0 up, you don’t necessarily need to come out and win the game from there.

“But I think it will be wrong of us to say it was just us. I don’t know why they weren’t as offensive as they were but I think a lot of that has come down to how we set up to nullify them.”

Fisher just couldn’t deal with long ball after long ball into their penalty area.  Edwards launched a high hanging cross from within the right-channel which Ogunseri failed to cherry pick out of the air and was relived to hear the half-time whistle immediately after watching the ball bounce behind his near-post.

Antonio Gonnella – the manager of Southern Counties East Football League First Division leaders SE Dons – attended the game, most likely to check out their future opponents should they win promotion at the end of this season.

Gonnella seemingly had enough and in the 43^rd minute, left his seat, saying goodbye to three familar faces before leaving the stadium. It summed up the poor quality of football being played.

When asked about their direct approach, Roots replied: “It’s apart of the remit. We have throw-in routines, we have corner routines and free-kick routines and we like to use them!

“I think the second half we don’t have to win the game from that point, which is why it slows down. When you’ve got the quality we’ve got, it makes sense to get balls into Roman, into Hoppo and if you can’t go through or around, you go over, so with the throws we want to be affective and we want to put balls into the box. We want to create chaos and the gaffer Chip wants to move their players into their box and change their landscape and that’s exactly what we do.”

Ashanike explained why his side’s half-time team-talk inside the away dressing room was swift before his side went out and had a soul-searching session out on the pitch, leaving the management sitting in the away dug-out for a while.

“First of all, it’s not something I want to do. I don’t feel I want to manage that way. I’m more relaxed, this year for them. I’m more calmer for them this year but they can’t rely on tactics and me and Jordan and my coaching team to bail them out every single time,” explained Ashanike.

“As a collective, they’ve got to want it themselves. They’ve got to want it. They’re still young men. They need to stand up and be counted and all the people are accountable for what they’re doing and the errors that they’re making. There’s no point us sitting in the changing room and shouting all the odds, bring the tactics board out. Nothing will change because it wasn’t tactically they were beating us.

“If you’re playing Whitstable (Fisher lost 5-1 at Whitstable in the Kent Senior Trophy Quarter-Finals last weekend), even Whitstable didn’t beat us tactically. If you’re playing Rusthall, Rusthall are a brilliant football team. If you’re playing Sutton, they’re a ball playing team. That’s when you need us.  This is when we can put tactics in there to counter what they’re doing.

“Today was ‘do you want it more?’ and for 90 minutes I don’t think our back line wanted it more than they wanted it.

“You saw they were putting their body on the line. The desire to head the ball was there and that’s really disappointing and that’s massively disappointing me.”

Roots added: “Well, Fisher came out pretty quick.  Fisher was only in there for a minute, so I think it was a case of understanding how the game was going to play differently in regards to the pitch and the slope.

“We wanted to be a little bit more offensive in regards to starting positions but I think it was the same.  Chip was planning with the change that had happened with JC (Jordan Campbell for Monger, 37^th minute) and it was just about how we were going to soak up pressure.

“I think we did that really well in the second half without them really having an attempt on goal.  You do have to soak up pressure but it was just about being calm and being relaxed and knowing that we were now in a position to win the game and how do you win it from here.”

Fisher came out on the front foot but they lacked the quality to find a way back into the game that was lost so early in this awful game of, can you call it football?

Jones delivered a right-footed free-klick from the right and the ball went through a crowd of players and half-time sub (centre-half) Conor Darwish poked the ball towards goal, which was comfortably gathered by Owen Bushell, after 158 seconds.

Mbuenimo played the ball along the deck, Jumo’s first-time flicked pass released Duncan down the left before Mbuenimo put in a cross and 10-goal striker Festos Kamara flicked his towering header over the crossbar.

Kamara started as a number nine, before switching to wide right, swapping places with Jacob Katonia.  The first-half tactic failed to work for Fisher.

“We were just trying to throw everything at it. We tried to come back into the game and try to give them belief and say ‘they can do it’ but we huffed and puffed and nothing happened,” came the manager’s reply.

“They defended really well, put their body on the line, which you expect a team like Punjab will do over here, so we’ve got to take it and learn from it and hopefully it doesn’t happen again.”

Jumo skipped past Punjab United’s right-back Lewin Thomas before he fizzed in a deep low cross towards the back post where high Fisher right-back Jack Gibbons drilled his right-footed shot just past the near-post from 16-yards (12:54).

Punjab United were content to sit on their two-goal lead and they went close following their seventh long throw (15:49).

Edwards launched the ball from the right, the ball was flicked on at the near-post by Wayne Bushell and Roman Campbell’s flicked header went across Ogunseri and dropped just past the foot of the far post.

Roots said: “Wayne is so good in the defensive areas and in midfield and in attacking areas.  We want to put the ball in the box. We want good people that can attack the ball.   Wayne seems to win a lot of flicks and a lot of attempts on goals.  He scored a goal last week and we’re trying to get that second phase into the striker, into Roman.  Put these balls into areas with the players you’ve got, you’re going to create goals.”

Fisher sub attacker Christopher Ojemen fizzed in a low cross and a poor touch by Jumo inside the box was proof that a lacklustre Fisher’s FA Vase campaign was going to end in Gravesend today, as too many Fisher players failed to turn up.

Ashanike said: “The difference, the difference, one-on-one in goal, you could see the keeper, slot the ball in but again desperation. You’ve got to get into positions where you shouldn’t be in there. Why is Flav in that position? The people who are meant to be in that position are not in that position.  People that are meant to be tapping the ball in. Today it was all just all round not good enough from all of us.”

Owen Bushell’s goal-kick was headed backwards by Hopkins and was seized upon by Ojemen, who drove into the Punjab penalty area and lacked composure by drilling his left-footed shot over the top of the near-post from 15-yards with only the keeper to beat.

Jones played an inside pass to substitute central midfielder Sha’mar Lawson, who was left in space some 35-yards out and his drilled right-footed shot was comfortably saved in Owen Bushell’s midriff (29:47), which proved to the final chance of the contest.

Ashanike said: “We’re playing against a good keeper today, so it was never going to go in anyway but it was a good effort.

“I think it was the first shot we’ve had. It was a good effort on the volley but we know he’s got the quality. We just need to get him fit and we should be ok.”

Roots added: “I like Sha’mar. He used to play for Holmesdale for me and then he got signed for Millwall. He’s a good talent. Someone we’ve worked with before.

“They were going to throw more bodies forward and we weren’t necessarily going to change the way that we play.  They changed shape, they went to a diamond, they went two up top. They went to almost two at the back at times and we never changed the way from our pattern of play but the shot was a good hit.

“Owen’s hands area really good. I[‘m really pleased for Owen. He’s a young goalkeeper with so much potential, so much talent. I’m really pleased he’s got his clean-sheet today.”

Hallen or Gonal Athletic, Droylsden, Coventry United, West Didsbury & Chorlton or Winsford United, Punjab United, Downtown, Haywards Heath Town or AFC Stoneham and Cockfosters go into Monday’s Quarter-Final Draw (28 February).

Holders Whitstable Town are out, losing 5-4 on penalties to Gavin Kelsey’s Cockfosters after a 1-1 draw at Belmont Road.

Kendall Gyamfi notched his 15^th goal of the season before the Oysterman levelled through Javaun Splatt’s 24^th goal of the campaign, as Cockfosters won their fourth penalty shoot-out in their run from the Second Qualifying Round.

Ashanike said: “Look, good luck to them, good luck to Punjab. At least there’s still one of us in it.

“Really, really gutted for Jamie (Coyle) and the guys there. I believe they would’ve given their all but they’re sitting on top of the league and I think the priority will be the League this year.

“They’ve done the Vase as well before so it’s not something new to them but I think the priority will be the League and trouble for anyone else who’s trying to chase them because now all focus will be that League and I don’t think anyone else will be able to stop them now.”

Roots said: “The champions are out, so a new champion will be crowned.

“I mean I think it’s a proud day for everyone involved in the club to be the last SCEFL side because it’s a fantastic competition and really you only feel the competition as you get to these stages.

“I think for most non-league players the final of the Vase is just the First or Second Round, just making that, so a good side were going out today. Cockfosters are a good side, Whitstable are an excellent side.  I don’t think you could probably pick one that we’d like to play but I think they have no one left in the SCEFL, every side is different, I think makes it exciting now.

“So listen, Whitstable will go on and get promoted in my eyes for sure and they’ve got other fish to fry and listen they’ve had their moment at Wembley, I suppose they can pass the mantle onto someone else now.

“What time is it? (the Quarter-Final Draw).  I believe now it opens up nationally. I’m pressure sure now the Quarter-Finals you could play anywhere across the country.

“Having a home tie having so much caveats of having to sort it out and I think Chipie wanted the home game. We would take home ties but of course it makes it exciting to get on a bus and go away. It makes it a bit more professional for the lads.

“But as long as we can hold advantage here. I think we’ll be happy to get it but exciting for everyone and as you can imagine whenever the draw comes out, for the next two hours the players will go crazy in all of the groups.

“I don’t think it’s probably hit some of the staff yet and I think it starts to gain a bit more national press but we’re excited for it.”

The two sides play each other in the Presence & Co Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division at Fisher’s St Paul’s Stadium on Tuesday night.

There were only two League games played – both on artificial pitches – with Gary Alexander winning his first game in charge of Erith & Belvedere – winning 2-1 at Kennington – and Darren Blackburn’s Hollands & Blair climbing into ninth-place after their 2-1 home win over third-placed Rusthall.

Whitstable Town (57 points from 23 games) remain at the summit – and the four-play off spots are occupied by Larkfield & New Hythe (46 points from 24 games), Rusthall (40 points from 20 games), Bearsted (38 points from 22 games) and Snodland Town (38 points from 23 games).

Punjab United remain in sixth-place with 35 points (nine wins, eight draws and five defeats), while Fisher sit in 12^th place with 31 points (eight wins, seven draws and five defeats).

Ashanike said: “Tuesday will come and we’ll probably beat them 5-0, which is the honest truth because it’s a surface that we’re used to. We can run, we don’t have to slip everywhere. It going to be our own home advantage.

“We can’t play like that again. I don’t think that will ever happen again, to play like that again.  They’ve just got to man enough to challenge.

“We’ve made a few new signings, which is good for us, so the competitions healthy. We’re looking really, really strong going into the second part of the season.

“My only objectives this season is to get into the play-offs again.  All the cup competitions are all a bonus. The League is my priority.

“It hurts because you’ve just lost to a team in your division. If we lost to Windsor, I don’t think I’ll feel the same way as I feel now but we know we can beat this lot and that’s the disappointing side to it today. We know we can do it and if we turned up today, we would’ve won that game.”

Ashanike demands his side to rise to the occasion and reach expectation levels that weren’t reached today.

“I’m expecting to see Fisher, full focused. They can’t do that again on a Tuesday night to us. They can’t do it and I believe my boys have got gears to get into.  That’s the best of Punjab you’ve seen today and that is at least 20 per cent of my boys that I’ve seen today.

“We’ve just got to focus on the League on Tuesday but I believe we’ll turn up on Tuesday and have a good performance.”

Roots added: “I think listen, they’ll be keen to right the wrongs of today. They’re a good side, they’re good at home. We’re very good on a 3G pitch. They’ll probably be a little bit of rotation with the squad. We can rest a few out that maybe have heavy legs today but we’ll feel positive going into that.

“Listen, the League is the bread and butter, without any shadow of a doubt and promotion is the absolute key result for this club and taking three points there will be nothing short of the exact same momentum we’ve had today.

“Ajay’s very wily at this level and I know he’ll be disappointed with (his side’s performance here).  We all like Ajay here and that’s the sad thing in football. They say there’s no friends, actually there is.  Listen, he’ll be ready to get the lads back again.

“I think you can expect to see something similar from them, a couple of changes. I think from a results perspective, we’ll be assessing the lads tomorrow. I think you can expect us to probably rotate a few players in. I think you need to if you’re going to be professional and beat them but that will come down to how the players’ are feeling tomorrow.

“I think you’ll see a different game than what you saw today because of the surface (artificial) and because it’s an evening game and I think you’ll see a slightly different approach from both teams.

With Jamie Coyle’s holders now out of the competition, no team left will want to play at the Elite Venue, with the slope and the home side’s direct approach.

“There were great scenes at the end (Punjab United can expect a fine from The Football Association for the post-match pitch invasion). It’s such a family club. The players’ come in with their kids, the kids are around the dressing rooms. Everything is all very pro-active and great scenes for everyone, very well deserved and hopefully that will continue into the next round.”

Punjab United at Wembley?   First of all the hallowed turf will have to be risen off the ground and placed up in the sky!

“I think for any footballer, player, staff, manager, coach, committee member, it’s the dream. It’s the absolute apotome of football to go there and that’s what we’ll be chasing and you’re 270 minutes away from it, which is just an incredible feat but listen, there’s big games to come in the League.

“You’ve got to manage the squad through that and the next round when it comes (28 February, two legged semi-finals on 28 March, 4 April, Wembley Final on Sunday 17 May), we’ll be ready, we’ll be prepared, we’ll be diligent.

“I think they should be really proud of it.”

A day out at Wembley or winning promotion via the play-offs?

“Oh my goodness, I mean for the club? Promotion, promotion, promotion, promotion.  For personal reasons, Wembley,” came Roots’ reply.

“But Wembley is one day, it’s a day experience and it will be amazing. It will always live with you but promotion’s are a catalogue of games over a period of time where you’ve been sustained and continual success.

“I’ve had promotions before (as Holmesdale’s manager from the tenth-tier) and I still dine of them now. It’s got to be promotion but let’s have promotion, with a day out at Wembley!”

Punjab United: Owen Bushell, Kyden Lewin Thomas, Ryan Gill, George Monger (Jordan Campbell 37), Stephen Ratcliff, Wayne Bushell, William Johnson-Cole (Ethan Okechukwu 62), Terlochan Singh, Roman Campbell, Jack Hopkins, Chris Edwards.
Subs: Hudson Scudder, Anthony Adesite, Harry Ottaway

Goals: Jack Hopkins 20, William Johnson-Cole 24

Booked: George Monger 34

Fisher: Isaac Ogunseri, Jack Gibbons, Lorenzo Duncan (Rafael Garcia 74), Tyron Mbunimo, Donald MacAuley, Stephan Richard Kingson (Conor Darwish 46), Esteban Salgado (Sha’mar Lawson 52), Flavio Jumo (Michael Sarpong 67), Festos Kamara, Tom Jones, Jacob Katonia (Christopher Ojemen 57).

Booked: Michael Sarpong 89

Attendance: 247
Referee: Mr Richard Wharton
Assistants: Mr Harrison Clarke & Mr Ben Al-Shaikh
Fourth Official:  Mr Gerry Heron