ROB Small has called on the local community to get behind Bowers & Pitsea ahead of their crunch FA Vase fifth round replay against Ipswich Wanderers tonight.

The Bowers boss watched his side draw 1-1 in Suffolk on Saturday, including 30 minutes of extra-time which also failed to separate the teams.

However, the result means yet another game for the Essex Senior League side, who are already playing catch-up in the league.

A win at the Len Salmon Stadium would set up another home tie in the last eight, with Oxfordshire side Kidlington awaiting the winners.

And Small said there are no favourites for the match, although he is praying the weather stays dry in front of what he hopes will be strong support.

“The match is already in doubt so who knows how long it will be before we get this replay played,” he said. “In that case, it's going to cost us more ground in the league which all but ends any hope we have of promotion.

“Ipswich are beatable but that's exactly what their manager would say about Bowers. It was a well-fought and even contest with both teams having their moments.

“There is no clear favourite going into this. We need the support of the local people and the rub of the green on the day.

“Things just didn't seem to go for us on Saturday. I'm sure Ipswich Wanderers feel it was a chance missed as they had the better of the game after the hour mark.

“We are at home. We will throw everything at them and will represent our league and the whole of Essex football the best we can.”

Bowers are now 20 points off the pace in the league, and face the current league leaders FC Romania on Saturday.

Both sides were the pre-season favourites to challenge at the top of the division, although a fixture backlog means Small now feels promotion could be beyond his side.

“A draw being far from ideal is an understatement from a league perspective,” he added. “We are now playing Tuesday night ahead of a massive game with FC Romania Saturday.

“But we are all focused on Ipswich for now.”