If Sutton Common Rovers reach the last 32 of the FA Vase, it will mark a significant high in what has so far been an emotional roller-coaster of a season for manager Darren Salmon.

Rovers go to Eastbourne Town on Saturday vying to reach the fourth round proper as well as pocket a cheque for £1,300.

The south coast club sit on top of the Southern Combination League Premier Division having lost just once in 17 games.

However, Rovers go there on the back of last weekend's 8-1 hammering of Cove in the Premier Division of the Combined Counties League, as well as wanting to right a wrong imposed on them in Monday’s 2-1 defeat at Hanworth Villa.

Salmon said: “Against Villa we had a perfectly good goal scored right on full time ruled out because the ref had blown his whistle.

“The boys were upset because they did not get what they deserved from the game.

“This Saturday could go one way or the other. They could be galvanised to put that right, or feel hard done-by and lose focus.

"Clearly we're hoping it is the former, because for us to be in the hat for the last 32 would be amazing.”

Rovers rewrote the history books by reaching the previous round, and Salmon, who has been part of the club since 2007, is only too aware of the significance of reaching the next stage.

“We are a family-run club, and when I took over as manager of the Satruday team, all I wanted was for Rovers to be taken seriously, and that is happening,” he said.

“Getting back to the borough of Sutton in the summer was a huge part of that, and it was a really exciting time.

“However, myself and the club were hit by grief when my nephew, Sam Hargreaves, lost his battle against a heart problem over the summer.

“He was key to getting the Colts teams together and he was only 15.”

Salmon added: “Sam would have been 16 next week [December 16], so this FA Vase game is dedicated to him.”

The boss is sweating on the fitness of goalkeeper Leigh Bowden (groin), while Hamilton Antonio could be unavailable as he continues a trial with the QPR U21s.