JOHN Coventry says it will be difficult to bring East Thurrock United back to earth after their FA Cup adventure.

Rocks went down 2-0 to Hartlepool United in the First Round of the competition on Saturday, but won many admirers in the North East.

And Coventry’s cup crusaders will have a chance to return to winning ways against Leatherhead tonight.

And he is confident the players will be ready to be thrown back into league action.

“It was brilliant,” said the East Thurrock manager. “Everything about the day was great and I am really glad we drew Hartlepool United.

“I now have to bring the players back to earth for what is an important league game. There are three points at stake and the boys will be eager to get the win as we have some games in hand and the play-offs aren’t far away.”

Rocks were indebted to goalkeeper David Hughes for a number of impressive saves against Pools. Although Coventry says he wasn’t surprised at Hughes’ or the rest of the team’s display at Victoria Park.

“I didn’t learn a lot about the players,” he continued. “These players don’t surprise me anymore as they always give their all, although I did think we could have played better.

“The players agreed we had more about us than we showed at times but that shows how hard Hartlepool had to work to win.”

Rocks, in 16th position, have three, or even four, games in hand against the sides above them and a win against Leatherhead could lift them as high as eighth.

The Tanners also lost at the weekend, at home against Lewes, and Coventry has backed his men to perform at Rookery Hill against the side one place below them in the table.

“Leatherhead can look at this two ways,” said the Rocks boss. “They can either think we are coming off the back of the excitement of the cup and it will be a chance for them. Or they could look at it as ‘they are on a good run and we will really struggle’.”