Iron boss keen for Trophy success

Braintree Town manager Lee Patterson has said a good FA Trophy run will be beneficial in more ways than one.

The Iron will host Wingate and Finchley or Sutton in the first round, if they beat Farnborough in a third qualifying round replay on Tuesday night.

The two sides played out a 1-1 draw at Cressing Road on Saturday.

Patterson told BBC Essex: "It adds a bit of excitement for the supporters and certainly gives you an opportunity to win some cash as well."

He continued: "But we've got a tough game again on Tuesday and hopefully if the players perform to the best of their ability, then maybe we can progress."

Patterson's men made the quarter-finals of the competition last season, before being knocked out by Aldershot.

Away from the Trophy, Patterson said he felt his side were heading in the right direction in the Blue Square South.

After what he described as an "indifferent" start to the season, Patterson said they were well placed to improved on their current mid-table position.

"For me, the side is a good, with players that have a lot of quality in non-league football and I've been trying to get the best out of them for weeks now," he explained.

"Once those players do click into place, then hopefully we'll be moving up the league."