Lordswood manager Jason Lillis has backed Spennymoor to beat Tunbridge Wells nine times out of ten before the two sides meet at Wembley on Saturday.

If ever Tunbridge Wells manager needed an incentive to fire his side up, those words from Lillis could well do the trick.

We stated by asking Jason what he remembered of the Spennymoor side who beat Lordswood 3-1 in the FA Vase earlier in the season.

Lillis said, “I will never paper over cracks and they are a fantastic football side, and they’ve proved it by where their league position is and with the players that they’ve got.”

“They’ve got internationals, under 21 internationals and are able to go out and buy players which clubs like Lordswood can only dream about. I’ve never come across a club like Spennymoor during my Kent League days as they’ve got the facilities and the support that is probably good enough to play Conference South.”

“That’s the standard they’re at – make no mistake we gave a good account of ourselves on the day but they still had more than enough in the locker to beat us. We worked as much and as hard as we could – when we got on top they just went to the next gear – we were beaten by a complete and utter better side!”

Spennymoor go into the game as many people’s favourites so we asked Jason what he considered to be any possible Achilles heel.

Thoughtfully he said, “Set pieces is probably their weakest link and could be Tunbridge Wells’ best chance of glory, and hopefully get in their final third, but the lads that Spennymoor have up front, and Gavin Cogdon in particular could have gone into the Football League but chose to stay at Spennymoor – the wide players are quick and they play; you just need to show up all over the park!”

“One thing that Martin (Larkin) will have done is to look at the way that they need to play at Wembley as if he starts chasing things around, I expect that Spennymoor will just play keep ball with them!”

“You can’t just knock the ball from full back to the front line at Wembley as it’s such a big pitch, and Spennymoor will just pick the ball off and come straight back at them.”

“But I’m sure he’s thought about that! They’ve just got to be patient and don’t start chasing the game around the park but traditionally Wembley is a very weary leg sapping pitch!”

So exactly what chance does Martin Larkin have of emulating the success that Tommy Sampson and Deal Town enjoyed in winning the 2000 Vase Final?

Jason said, “On the day you never know what’s going to happen but if they played Spennymoor ten times I would only think that Tunbridge Wells would win once as you only get one chance against them, and you have to take it. I just hope that Wells can apply themselves and enjoy the day and hopefully get a result.”

“I think that Wells achievement is massive for Kent football as a whole. We got to the last 32 and were beginning to dream of Wembley before we drew Spennymoor that is.”

“If the draw had been a bit kinder who knows, we could have got further and got a bit closer but for Kent football it’s great – everyone’s going to be watching, and everyone’s going to be looking for the result.”

“They’ve sold a lot of tickets and will probably have around 10,000 people behind them which is great. It’ll put Tunbridge Wells on the map I’m sure. And more importantly it’ll keep Kent football on the map as well.”