BACKING BORO' TO WEMBLEY: Hubbard turns his back on Borough - EXCLUSIVE

THE MAN who was so desperate to play for Greenwich Borough in the FA Carlsberg Vase Final at Wembley Stadium has jumped ship ahead of the club’s LAST SIXTEEN tie at Hungerford Town on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

Winger Chris Hubbard, who caught the eye in Borough’s 2-1 home win over Harefield United in the last round, has opted to sign for Cheshunt, a side that’s currently rooted to the foot of the British Gas Business Southern Premier League table.

But it was a different story for Hubbard, just three weeks ago, pledging to send the Eltham based outfit to Wembley glory.

“We want Wembley, we want it!,” he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk after the last round. “We’re working hard, so hard for it and to go last sixteen is the best thing.”

But Terry Malin, the club’s assistant manager, speaking EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk  during tonight’s training session - they have another one on Thursday night - admitted the timing of Hubbard’s switch is poor.

“We’re a bit disappointed to be fair,” he said. “We wanted him to wait a week for the Vase game was over but at the end of the day we would never stop anyone playing at a higher level.

“It’s a big jump from here to Southern Premier. We’re disappointed that he didn’t give us a week to get us through the Vase game.

“To be fair he’s a good player, he’s out and it gives someone else an opportunity.”

Borough are sweating on the fitness of their two leading goalscorers, striker Badar Mohammed, who scored the last-gasp winner against Harefield United, is struggling with a groin strain and will not train this week, and midfielder Peter Smith (ankle).

“Badar is 70-30 to play, with rest, but Smith is 50-50 with his ankle, which is a bit of a blow,” revealed Malin.

“We’ll give them right up to the game. Forward wise, we’re a bit light. Smithy, we have got people to replace him.”

But the versatile Ben Yiadom has been drafted into the squad and adds options.

“Ben Yiadom came back from suspension last Saturday and to be fair he was superb,” praised Malin.

“He can play up front, behind the front two, or in any of the four midfield positions. That’s a bonus for us because he’s so adaptable.”

And Malin knows that this stage of the competition is a shop window for his players.

He said: “This is what the disappointment was for Hubbard. These opportunities (playing in the last sixteen of the FA Vase) may not come around to you but he said he’ll go there and they’ll give him a chance. He wants to play at a higher level but he goes with our best wishes.”

Despite that set-back, Malin insists Borough will be ready for the clash against the Crusaders, but admitted his club are the smallest ranked side left on the road to Wembley.

“I would say we’re the ranked outsider, the smallest club left in it, facilities and playing budget,” he explained.

“Our budget, we can’t go out and get a player, only for nothing. We can’t offer a player certain amounts of money.

“We have tried to get players out on loan but it’s difficult. We’re not in the position to strengthen the squad like the other fifteen teams in the Vase. They’re probably in a position to strengthen. We’ve got a 15-16 man squad and they’re all together.”

Borough’s management trio of manager Phil Miles, Malin and coach Ray Bagnell, made the trip to the Memorial Ground to see Hungerford’s 2-0 home win over Bicester Town last Tuesday and have done their homework on the side that stands in their way of a place in the last eight.

Malin signalled Ian Concannon (31 goals) and Jamie Gosling (23) as players they’ve got to contain.

“About five years ago, me and Phil, when we were managers of Slade Green, we played Didcot in the Vase and we watched them at Hungerford,” recalled Malin.

“We know Concannon, he’s a bit of a legend in their neck of the woods, he’s an obvious threat,” he warned.

And he added: “They’ve got him and another fella, Gosling, who plays behind the front two and he’s a very good talented player. We looked on their website and (FA Vase holders) Truro City are after him.”

But the least supported Kent League club are so close to playing at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, 11^th May - and Malin wants to spring another shock in Berkshire at the weekend.

“It’s nice to go in with a little bit of knowledge but it will be a tough game,” said Malin.

“It was a good trip out at Hungerford. It was good in terms, as it’s a nice pitch - it will suite us.

“It will be like all the other rounds, very difficult. You don’t fluke your way into the last sixteen of the FA Vase - we expect a very difficult game.

“It’s a Cup game and it will be done on the day. We have got to go there and do our job and be as professional as we can. Whoever has the heart and desire will go through.

“We go there with every respect for Hungerford. If they play well and they beat us, we will say “thanks very much.”

“Our boys won’t freeze. They’ve got the hunger for it. We’re not over confident but we will give a good account of ourselves.

“To get this far for a small club like us is superb.

“Can we win it? We’ve come this far, why can’t we? Who knows? Look at Havant & Waterlooville,
2-1 up at Liverpool, it can happen.

“These teams are at our level and I still believe on our day, in an one-off game, we can beat anyone.

“We will give it our best go - it will be an entertaining day.”

Coverage:
Listen to BBC Radio Kent and Matt Gerrard on 96.7FM
www.kentishfootball.co.uk will bring you our usual in-depth report and reaction during the course of the weekend

Hungerford Town v Greenwich Borough
FA Carlsberg Vase Fifth Round (LAST SIXTEEN)
Saturday 9^th February 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Bulpit Lane, Hungerford, Berkshire RG17 0AY

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