Margate manager Reece Prestedge looks ahead to Kent Senior Cup First-Round match at Hythe Town

Reigning Kent Senior Cup winners Margate are set to start their defence - but boss Reece Prestedge concedes the timing of their First-Round encounter isn’t ideal.

Gate will visit Isthmian South East Hythe tonight (kick-off 7.45pm), more than four months on from their penalty shoot-out Final success at Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium after a 1-1 draw against Chatham.

But Margate, of Isthmian Premier, also have an FA Cup Third Qualifying Round match at Chesham United this Saturday to plan for.

Ahead of their trip to Reachfields, Prestedge said: “There’s going to be a lot of changes.

“We have got a lot of games coming up. With the FA Cup this Saturday, it’s not ideal having the Kent Cup game.

“But we will have to go into it with belief and confidence and, if we can get a result, we can take that into Saturday.”

Newly-signed midfielder Godfrey Poku made his Gate debut off the bench in their weekend 4-1 league loss at Canvey Island and could come into contention to make his first club start.

Steve Watt’s Cannons earned a 4-2 away FA Trophy triumph at 10-man Chertsey Town on Saturday.