ROB Small wants to thank the Bowers & Pitsea supporters for their continued support by guiding the club to a cup final this season.

Bowers, who are enjoying their first ever campaign in the third tier of non-league football, will make the trip to Wingate & Finchley for an Isthmian League Cup tie tomorrow.

And, although avoiding relegation is this season’s priority, Small sees this weekend’s clash as a welcome distraction from the Isthmian Premier League campaign.

“We are taking the competition seriously,” said the Bowers boss.

“When you are challenging for promotion, like we were last season, you don’t necessarily concentrate on the cup competitions as much.

“But we are playing to stay in the division and that will a different type of pressure.

“If we can stay in the Isthmian League Cup, that would be great because the supporters have stuck with us and they can see the effort is there.

“It would be nice to thank them by getting to a cup final.”

Bowers head into the fixture looking to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat to Worthing in midweek.

And Small will be making changes to his side as Bowers look to progress in the Isthmian League Cup.

Small added: “We will use it as an opportunity to keep trying to improve.

“We are not going to have the same team as in midweek because we will make changes and give people a chance.

“Although we will make adjustments, winning football games is a habit and it’s important to remember that.”