Lammas aiming to stop Stones rolling

Mar 25 2009 By Jon Batham, Staines News

COMBINED COUNTIES ONE Staines Lammas........................1 Mole Valley.................................1

BOSS Nathan Wharf hopes a favour he called in on his old club will give Staines Lammas the chance to spring a cup upset tonight.

Lammas face Wealdstone Reserves in the Middlesex Premier Cup final at Ashford and Wharf, boss of the Tangerines for many years, asked his former chairman Bob Parker for permission to train for an hour at Short Lane on Monday night.

Wharf, ever the comedian joked 'flooding the pitch and playing in canoes' might further help to shorten the odds for his side against Wealdstone, who will start as overwhelming favourites.

However, he claimed he was more than happy to be in the role of outsiders.

He said: "We are the underdogs there's, no doubt about that, but given we've beaten sides like Ashford and Uxbridge, I'm full of confidence.

"I bet half their players have never even heard of us, but I say let them think we are the underdogs, this is a cup final and anything can happen."

Lammas can approach the game with confidence after having the better of their Combined Counties top of the table clash with Mole Valley on Saturday.

Ross Deacon gave his side the lead only for a rare goalkeeping error from keeper Dan Cox allowed the league leaders to draw level.

Hopes of victory were further hampered when Jamie Redrup was given a straight red for violent conduct with 20 minutes to go.

Wharf added: "We threw it away really. Coxy has been great for us since he came from Ashford, but he let their shot through his legs and then Jamie gets sent off for handbags really.

"But we are like Liverpool at the moment. We get stronger as the season goes on and we love coming from behind so people better keep looking out for us.

"We've got Valley again in the League Cup final, and we'll be a lot more ready for them then."