BASILDON United chief Craig Gillam says there isn’t a better time to play Bowers & Pitsea and his players are desperate to knock them out of the Essex Senior League Cup.

The player/manager said the mood around the Bees camp is buzzing and Gillam is now targeting a spot in the semi-finals of the Essex Senior League Cup.

“I work with Russell Harley (club’s first-choice goalkeeper) and we have been talking a lot about it,” he said. “We have players travelling from as far as Luton and Cambridge for this match as they are desperate to progress in the cup and knock Bowers out.

“I honestly don’t think there is a better time to play them. Our pitch isn’t great so I don’t know if Bowers will enjoy playing on that surface and be able to play their normal game.

“Bowers are going so well in the league I would say they have to focus on that while winning the league is still a possibility. They are on a 15-match unbeaten run and we want to end that run.”

Thirteenth-placed Basildon have already been beaten twice by Bowers this season, but Gillam says his team is not deterred by those previous meetings.

“We have given all the sides above us good games this season and they know it won’t be easy when they come up against us,” he said. “We started the season badly before I took over but I have been pleased with what we have achieved so far and this would be another success.”