NICKY English says Whyteleafe goalkeeper Rob O'Hara will be fit to face Chipstead in the FA Cup tomorrow despite sustaining whiplash injuries in a car crash on Tuesday night.

The 6ft 8ins stopper was involved in a collision on the way to Leafe's league game at Godalming Town and was unable to play, giving Michael Lidbury an opportunity between the sticks.

Losing O'Hara was a blow to the Church Road club after he had turned in a man of the match display last Saturday in the 1-1 with Merstham on the opening day of the season.

But Leafe manager English is confident the keeper will have recovered in time to make the starting line-up at High Road tomorrow.

"Rob O'Hara didn't play against Godalming as he had a car accident on the way to the ground," said English.

"He has a bit of whiplash but he's otherwise ok. He will be playing on Saturday."

The FA Cup preliminary round clash is a trip down memory lane in more ways than one for English, who guided Chipstead to the fourth qualifying round two years ago during his time as the club's manager.

It remains the furthest Chipstead have ever gone in the competition, a run that ended with defeat at Torquay United and provided echoes of Whyteleafe's progression to the first round proper 11 years ago.

English said the meeting of two old rivals would have an extra edge because of his links to Chipstead, but he warned that a cup run can sometimes have an adverse effect on league form - which is his priority with Leafe this season.

"[At the time of their cup run] Chipstead were in a similar dilemma to the one Whyteleafe are in now," he said.

"As good as the FA Cup is, it derailed us in the league and when we went out it was hard to get that form back.

"I don't think it's the most important game. I would like to do well and the fact it's Chipstead adds a bit of spice to it. With them at home, I would put them as slight favourites. But if we got through against Chipstead and did well in the next round you can start to put all your tools into the FA Cup."

Leafe's Danny Oakins, who was part of that Chipstead cup run, will not face his former club tomorrow as he is away.

English was pleased with his younger players despite the 4-1 defeat to Godalming on Tuesday, hailing the performances of midfielders Alec Brown and Lee Stripp in particular.

Leafe suffered the worst possible start as full-back Harry Cull, making his debut, was adjudged to have tripped Godalming's Victor Kiri in the penalty box. Glenn Stanley converted from the spot, although his miss-kicked shot went in off the bar.

Graeme Purdy made it two when beating Lidbury to a through ball and slotting home but Darren Watson pulled one back for Leafe with a powerful header from a Chris O'Flaherty corner.

Godalming keeper Marcus Bettinelli had to keep out dipping efforts from O'Flaherty and Brown before half-time, and the visitors began the second half strongly as well.

But the game got away from them five minutes after the restart when the hosts scored a contentious third goal. With Leafe trying to let the ball run out for a goal-kick, Purdy kept it in play and Daniel Morris fired home from a tight angle via the post.

Four minutes later Godalming sealed the points when Leafe lost the ball in midfield and Lidbury brought down Purdy who was through on goal. The goalkeeper was sent off and his replacement Oakins could not save Andy Ottley's resulting spot-kick.

Whyteleafe: Lidbury, Cull, Aldous, Gunner, Oakins, Graham (Stripp), Coleman, Brown, Ogunseye (Mitchell), O'Flaherty, Watson (Drake). Unused sub: Rutherford.