After reaching the fourth qualifying round last season, Tom Loizou’s men will hope to make the first round proper this time

Haringey Borough will play host to Stanway Rovers in the preliminary round of the FA Cup on Saturday hoping it is the start of another fine run.

During the 2017/18 campaign, the Coles Park club almost made it through to the first round proper, but lost 4-2 at home to former Bostik North rivals Heybridge Swifts in the fourth qualifying round.

Nevertheless, it was a great journey for Tom Loizou’s side and he will hope Saturday is the first step towards a plum tie later in the competition.

This weekend’s opponents, Rovers, ply their trade in the Essex Senior League, which is a division Haringey won back in 2015.

Since earning promotion three years ago, Borough have enjoyed quite the ride and can now call themselves a Bostik Premier club.

After entertaining Rovers on Saturday looking to bank £2,980 in prize money, Loizou and his chargers will return to league action on Monday.

Potters Bar Town will visit on the Bank Holiday (August 27) with both clubs coming up to this level from the Bostik North last season.

Haringey will hope for two wins over the next few days after losing at Leatherhead on Saturday – their first loss of the campaign.

Goals from Shaun Okojie and Travis Gregory put the Tanners two goals ahead at Fetcham Grove after only 31 minutes.

Borough responded straight after the break through Joel Nouble, but his 47th-minute goal – his third of the 2018/19 season – ended up only being a consolation in a 2-1 loss.

Afterwards. Leatherhead boss Nikki Bull revealed his disappointment at the way his side had performed.

He spoke to the official club website, and said: “When you are 2-0 up you don’t want give the opposition a lift or a sniff and we did that and Haringey took full advantage.

“As the game went on, they become more and more dangerous and threw caution to the wind and threw more bodies forward, so I guess it is testament to us that we did get over the line for the three points, but like I say – the last hour was disappointing.”

Haringey will also feel frustrated after they saw their unbeaten start to the season ended, but they will aim to bounce back this weekend.