Ramsgate v Cirencester Town

STEFFAN BALL is aiming to continue his goal-a-game scoring sequence in the FA Cup when Ramsgate bid to make club history against Southern League Premier Division Cirencester Town at Southwood on Saturday.

The 25-year-old school teacher has netted in each of the previous three rounds, and scored twice in Saturday’s 4-2 FA Trophy win at Northwood, which earned the Rams a second qualifying round tie at home to AFC Wimbledon next month. Sean Welford and Ollie Schulz got the other two.

Victory against Cirencester will put Rams into Monday’s draw for the First Round proper for the first time, when League 1 and 2 clubs enter for the first time.

Ball, who has now hit 10 in 15 games, said: "It’s a massive game for the club and I can’t wait. It’s certainly the biggest match I have been involved in as a player. In fact I have had a good feeling we might do well since before our first game at Merstham."

Ball hit the winner against Walton and Hersham in the last round, converted the penalty that beat Southall, and also netted at Croydon Athletic.

He said: "I am really enjoying it at Ramsgate. They are a good bunch of lads, and there’s a great team spirit amongst us both on and off the field. Obviously ability is important, but we all get on and that helps."

Ball caught Jim Ward’s eye when he played for Greenwich Borough against Ramsgate last season.

The Rams boss said: "Steffan has been a revelation, despite playing in a different position than he was used to before he came to the club. He reminds me a lot of the former Maidstone and Gillingham striker Steve Butler, has a good touch, is a good athlete and very fit."

Ball teaches PE at Crownwoods School at Eltham in South East London, and will referee a boys game before he jumps in the car to drive to Ramsgate for Saturday’s game.

Sussex-born Ball lived in Somerset as a child, then moved back to London to study at the University of Greenwich. He has had spells at Bromley, Tonbridge Angels, Horsham, Leatherhead and Erith & Belvedere before playing 10 games for Greenwich last season.

Ward and chairman Richard Lawson braved a wet night in Bath last week to see Cirencester lose 3-0 at Twerton Park. They beat Gloucester City 2-0 in the Trophy at the weekend.

He said: "I think we need to be right at the top of our game and hope they are not. We certainly were not at our best at Northwood, and I thought we lacked application and attitude.

"The level of expectancy at the club is now sky high, considering we were a Kent League club only a few months ago. It’s certainly the biggest game of my managerial career, except for last-day title deciders."

Simon Pettit (hamstring) has joined Dean Hill on the sidelines and misses the game. Ed and Stuart Vahid return.