Hollands & Blair host Isthmian League Ashford United in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round this Saturday after an opening day league defeat at Tunbridge Wells

Hollands & Blair boss Scott Porter believes his side have everything to gain from this weekend’s Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup.

Ashford United are the opponents heading to Star Meadow on Saturday - a side from the league above.

“There from the league above us and we know they will be good,” said Blair boss Porter.

“We just have to go out there and play to the best of our ability.

“It’s a free hit for us.

“We’ll go into it and enjoy the occasion and hopefully get a big crowd.”

Blair are playing a new style of football under Porter as they look to change with the times.

With a super new surface at Star Meadow, there’s less of the old-school approach.

Porter said: “Football has changed. You have to change with it or you get left behind.

“I was very successful with the way I played but there are not many players out there like that now. A lot of the players are now technically good, they want to play football and with the young kids we’ve got they have been at academies.

“Look at the pitch we have and the facilities. We’re changing. I have great staff behind me, (first team coach) Darren Anslow works at Bromley, a massive plus.

“We’re all working out of football, not just a Tuesday and Thursday (at training), we’re doing a lot of classroom work, we are changing, but it is good and enjoyable. We know where we have to tinker it and the lads are all buying into it.”

Blair endured a frustrating start to their Southern Counties East Premier Division campaign last Saturday, beaten 1-0 at Tunbridge Wells.

Porter’s men had plenty of the ball but few of the big moments went their way, including some decisions by the officials that left the management fuming.

Both Porter and Anslow were cautioned for dissent, seething at