WEEKEND PREVIEW: Cuckoos are confident of Waltzing away with a trophy
Not since the 2009-10 Hunts Senior Cup have ‘The Cuckoos’ claimed silverware outright, although they did share the Hiinchingbrooke Cup with Royston in 2013 as the final was abandoned because of a serious injury.
But manager Brett Whaley is excited about a season that opens with a home FA Cup tie against Huntingdon tomorrow (August 6) and then a tough United Counties Premier Division clash at home to Holbeach United on Tuesday (August 9).
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Hide AdWhaley has returned ‘home’ from Wisbech Town and is committed to delivering success.
“It’s about time we won a trophy again,” Whaley stated. “We made steady progress in my first spell as manager here, but we didn’t win anything outright.
“That has to change and we have assembled a squad capable of delivering success. In Phil Stebbing and Dan Cotton we have two strikers capable of scoring 25-30 goals apiece if they stay fit.
“I have brought goalkeeper Aaron Butcher and centre-back Stuart Wall with me from Wisbech so we should be strong defensively as well.
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Hide Ad“We’ve had a great pre-season and scored lots of goals. We beat Spalding 5-2 which was a very good performance.
“I know friendly results mean little, but we will be starting the season full of confidence.
“My biggest concern will be switching from our outstanding 4G surface to a bog of a pitch from week to week, but I’m expecting us to start well.
“We’ll be favourites to beat Huntingdon in the Cup, but Holbeach will be a very hard game. They are always one of the teams to beat in the UCL.”
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Hide AdYaxley also signed full-back Michael Mackrell from Peterborough Northern Star last week.
Star have a tough FA Cup tie at Eynesbury Rovers on Saturday. Wisbech are at BostonTown with the winners set to meet Peterborough Sports or Gorleston. Holbeach host Swaffham, while Deeping Rangers are at Ely.
FORTHCOMING FIXTURES
Saturday, August 6
FA CUP
Extra Preliminary Round: Boston Town v Wisbech Town, Ely City v Deeping Rangers, Eynesbury Rovers v Peterborough Northern Star, Holbeach United v Swaffham Town, Peterborough Sports v Gorleston, Yaxley v Huntingdon Town.
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
Division One: Bourne Town v Long Buckby AFC, Olney Town v Blackstones, Whittlesey Athletic v Bugbrooke St Michaels.
THURLOW NUNN EASTERN LEAGUE
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Hide AdDivision One: Coggeshall Town v March Town United, Wisbech St Mary v Needham Market Res.
LINCOLNSHIRE SENIOR SHIELD
Semi-final: Stamford v Spalding.
Tuesday, August 9
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
Premier Division: Wisbech Town v Peterborough Sports, Yaxley v Holbeach United.
Division One: Bourne Town v Whittlesey Athletic.
THURLOW NUNN EASTERN LEAGUE
Division One: March Town United v Haverhill Borough.
Wednesday, August 10
CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
Premier Division: Peterborough Northern Star v Huntingdon, Sleaford Town v Deeping Rangers.
Division One: Blackstones v Melton Town.
THURLOW NUNN EASTERN LEAGUE
Division One: Wisbech St Mary v Dereham Town Res.