Danny Lye believes dealing with Dunston’s midfield threat is key to Ashford United’s chances of winning their FA Vase fifth round replay in Gateshead on Saturday.

The Homelands player-manager, who turns 35 on Thursday, knows it will be tough against the former Vase champions, with the weather and pitch conditions also set to play their part, as both teams chase a place in the quarter-finals and a trip to one of the competition’s favourites, Salisbury FC, managed by Steve Claridge.

Lye said: “Dunston’s holding and attacking players were a danger we have to nullify both.

“We also need to play higher.We dropped too deep at times on Saturday, which can be our Achilles heel when playing at home. It’s going to be a small, heavy pitch up there and will be a battle.”

Lye added: “Being drawn against Salisbury is a nice incentive for the boys but we can’t worry about that until after Saturday.

“It’s a long time since I played there but it means nothing at the moment.”

New signing Matt Newman who moved last week from neighbours Folkestone Invicta, is added to the squad on duty last weekend, after missing the first match because of flu.

Ashford are travelling in style, using Maidstone United’s first team coach for the trip, staying overnight in Newcastle ahead of the game.

Meanwhile, long-term absentee Gary Clarke is putting no timescale on his return to action.

The United skipper has been sidelined since September with an abductor muscle problem.

He then had his recovery delayed after suffering another tear.

Clarke said: “I have been doing a lot of work on the treadmill, lots of other different exercises and keeping busy doing other things, because not being able to play has frustrated the hell out of me.”