Hythe Town manager Ira Jackson excited for FA Cup extra preliminary round game against Littlehampton Town after opening-day Southern Counties East League Premier Division 3-0 win at Corinthian

Boss Ira Jackson is looking forward to the challenge Hythe’s weekend visitors will pose.

Jackson will take charge of his first competitive home game as the Cannons welcome Isthmian South Central side Littlehampton to Reachfields in the FA Cup extra preliminary round on Saturday.

It’s a first clash of the campaign for Littlehampton while Jackson’s youthful Hythe team started their Southern Counties East League Premier Division promotion push with last weekend’s 3-0 victory at Corinthian.

“They will be a strong side,” said 28-year-old former Grimsby and Folkestone forward Jackson.

“They’re a team that always aims to dominate and bully the opposition so we have got to be ready for that.

“We will be playing against a team that wants to dominate, not just on the ball, but in the air as well.

“It will be a good test for our group.

“They say teams follow the profile of a manager [when they were a player] and we’re not overly-aggressive so it will be interesting, playing a team like that.

“I’m looking forward to that challenge.

“It’s going to be a big job for the referee, as well, so it should be a good one.”

While defenders Ollie Gray and Will Dempsey missed their league match at Corinthian, the former could be in contention to make a comeback for the Cannons’ cup clash when £1,125 will be on offer to the winners.

Jackson said: “We will be without Will but, hopefully, Ollie will be back. He’s a vital player.

“If you have a young group and want to add some experience, you want an experienced player like Ollie Gray.

“Certainly, if we can get him back for Saturday, we’ll be happy with that.”

It was also a first game at the Corinthian helm for Keith McMahon, who has replaced long-serving manager Michael Golding over this summer.

Bu