'It's in the stars'

Hungerford boss backs his players to complete the job in play-off final

HUNGERFORD manager Bobby Wilkinson said he was convinced that his team would turn around Hitchin’s two-goal lead and make it into Monday’s play-off final with Leamington at Bulpit Lane.

“We’ve blown quite a few 2-0 leads,” he said, “”But I can give you my word on this. When we were 2-0 down, I turned to Jay (assistant manager Jamie Leacock and said ‘well win this 3-2.’

“I know my late brother is looking down on me and I said I will do it for him. It’s in the stars.

“You can’t go 2-0 down at one of the most hostile grounds you ca go to, but that’s just us all over. We kept believing. They thought they had won it, but I knew my boys would do it.

“They keep coming back and coming back and the boys take the credit They take the knocks but produce the best comeback you will ever see.

“And our fans were bruilliant. We outshone them and they’ve got 500-odd behind one goal but all you can hear is our fans.

“I will take this little club into the Conference, It’s written in the stars.”

Wilkinson also had prise for Monday’s oponents Leamington after they edged into the play-off zone and battled from behind to beat second in the table Redditch Uniuted on penalties on their own ground, just days after they and Hungerford had shared a goal-less draw in Warwickshire.

“People thought the two of us would never do it,” said Wilkinson, “Congratulations to Leamington for what is a fantastic achiovement and now they’re coming to Hungerford.

“We know all about them, and they know all about us. Now we want every one of you out there to get off your backsides and get yourselves to Hungerford on Monday.”

Monday’s game will kick off at 3pm and will be played over 90 minutes with extra time and penalties if necessary with the winners joining Poole Town in winning promotion, Hungerford to the National League South or Leamington probably to the National League North.