We must take advantage of our home comforts, says Malin - EXCLUSIVE

TERRY MALIN knows that home advantage will benefit Greenwich Borough as the Eltham based club bid to reach the LAST SIXTEEN of the FA Carlsberg Vase on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

Assistant manger Malin, speaking EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk whilst first-team coach Ray Bagnell put the players’ through a training session on the training pitch at Harrow Meadow tonight, believes the Kent League side can knock out Harefield United.

The Hares arrive in south-east London in fifth place in the Spartan South Midlands Premier League and have a decent record over Borough.

And the former Slade Green management pair of Phil Miles and Malin expect a tough game against the Middlesex outfit.

“We had someone watch them a couple of weeks ago and they’re a big, strong, physical side - we’ll have our hands full,” said Malin.

“They go about their business well and we know what we’re up against.

“We’ve got home advantage but we look forward to playing away because the pitch here isn’t the best.

“In saying that, you get to this stage and they do say home advantage is a help and our home record is good - hopefully we’ll make home advantage count.”

Malin pleads with Kent football fans to get themselves down to Harrow Meadow, Eltham Green Road to watch the fourth round tie as the club start to dream about Wembley Stadium.

He said: “You look at it and think it’s a long way away (but) we’ve come through four rounds. Wembley is a dream. If we can get through this you’re in the last sixteen.

“The last 32 is brilliant but get through this round and you’re amongst it all.

“On our day we’re capable of beating anyone, but if you saw us Saturday up at Sporting Bengal, you didn’t think so. Sometimes we’re a little bit inconsistent.”

Reflecting on their embarrassing 2-1 defeat at the Mile End Stadium, which gave Sporting Bengal United only their third win in 18 Kent League games, Malin admitted: “You want to go into any game with the best form we can.

“If you win every game you go into it full of confidence but me personally it gets to this stage it’s on the day, who turns up on the day and a little bit of luck.”

He added: “You aren’t going to get a bad side in the last 32. I feel on the day it will not be a lot in it, small details, a mistake or a wonder goal but not a lot in it.”

The unloved club are trying to increase the attendance ahead of the big game.

“There is some talk of a lot of people have been trying to get feelers out to get people down,” revealed Malin.

“Our secretary thinks there will be a few people down, invited the under 13s and their parents.

“It would be wonderful if we could get 150 down here to pay for the game but if we have our normal 40, we’ll play to them.”

“We’re going into the unknown but the furthest the club got in the Vase was against Harefield in the fourth round and got beat 5-4 after a draw at home in the early 90s and in 1989 Harefield also beat us in the Vase,” revealed Malin. “There is history, not a good one for us.

“For me and Phil, as players, we got as far as the fourth round with Darenth Heathside and got knocked out by Hailsham in about 1990.

“We played down there in front of 900 people and they’re were a good side and they got to the semi-finals that year.

“Managerial wise at Slade Green we never really got out of the preliminary rounds.”

But looking ahead to Saturday, Malin said: “The game should take care of itself. It’s the last 32 of the Vase and if you can’t get yourself up for that you really are struggling - it’s a big game.”

Harefield’s Sean Sonner has already bagged 26 goals this season, but Malin acknowledged his match winners.

“We’re aware, when we saw him play he’s a handful but Mohammed Badir has scored 24 for us I think. Mind you if you saw him play last Saturday, he had a shocker.

“On our day we’ve got three or four players who are match winners on their own. Badir, (midfielder) Peter Smith has scored nine goals in the last four games and winger Chris Hubbard.

“We’ve got enough about us on the day. We’ve got enough in our locker.”

Borough’s blow, however, is that left-sided midfielder Ben Yiadom is suspended.

But with another training session planned on Thursday night, Greenwich Borough will be ready.

“We’ve got people from the FA and Kent League coming down and the club has been tidied up. A decent crowd would make for a good day,” said Malin.

“I would say it was pretty much an even game with home advantage swinging it our way.

“We’ll do our bits and pieces. We don’t take anyone lightly and we know it will be a tough game.

Kent League leaders VCD Athletic welcome the Ridgeons Premier League leaders Needham Market to Oakwood in Old Road, Crayford in the same round on Saturday, and Malin wants both Kent League sides to progress.

He said: “I hope both teams go through as it would be good for the Kent League to get two teams in the next round - it would be fantastic!

“I spoke to (former VCD Athletic manager) Martin Ford a couple of weeks ago and he said “it’s good to be at home“. We have to use that advantage.”

Malin confirmed that a pitch inspection will take place at Harrow Meadow before 11am on the morning of the game - if required.

Greenwich Borough v Harefield United
FA Carlsberg Vase Fourth Round
Saturday 19^th January 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Harrow Meadow, Eltham Green Road, Eltham