ROB Small insists Bowers & Pitsea are not the favourites heading into their FA Cup first qualifying round tie with Brentwood Town.

Bowers will welcome the Isthmian North side, who remain without a point this campaign and are 19th in the standings, to the Len Salmon Stadium tomorrow.

But, having suffered a 3-0 defeat to Brentwood in November, Small is aware that the visitors will put up a fight to advance in the FA Cup.

“Brentwood were the first team to beat us last season,” said the Bowers boss, whose side romped home to the Isthmian North title last term.

“I remember that very well and won’t forget about that defeat.

“It is a club we know well having gone head-to-head with them for three years in the Isthmian North.

“They have a new management team this year but we are familiar with a large part of their playing staff.

“Although we are the division above them now, I don’t see it as us necessarily being the favourites going into tomorrow’s game.

“I don’t think about it too much because, in my opinion, we are on an equal footing.

“We are in the Isthmian Premier League, whereas they are in the Isthmian North, but we are not a bigger club than them.”

The FA Cup tie allows Bowers to take a break from Isthmian Premier League action.

Bowers are plying their trade in the third tier of non-league football for the first time in the club’s history.

And they will do battle with Brentwood having suffered back-to-back defeats at the hands of East Thurrock United and Enfield Town.

A penalty from Billy Bricknell, the former Billericay Town striker, was enough for Enfield to overcome Bowers.

As a result, Bowers were condemned to two consecutive losses for the first time in eight months.

But Small felt his side were deserving of a share of the spoils against Enfield.

“We were probably deserving of taking something from the game if you base it on our performance,” added Small.

“But goals change games and we didn’t take any of our chances.

“It wasn’t to be and this division is unforgiving.

“Playing against strikers like Billy Bricknell shows the quality we are up against in this league.

“We kept Billy quiet for the majority of the day and restricted Enfield to only a couple of chances.

“One of those chances was a penalty, so we looked good defensively.”