Bloods boss Hughes relishing Vase challenge

 

Saffron Walden Town host March Town United in the second round of the Isuzu FA Vase on Saturday, and manager John Hughes has said that he is looking forward to a “good battle” at Catons Lane.

Speaking on BBC Radio Essex’s Fans’ Phone-In show on Friday evening, Hughes, who has been in charge since January having previously held the role of assistant manager, was quick to stress the difficult task ahead of The Bloods ahead of Saturday’s fixture, given the strength of the opposition.

“It’s a tough game against a really competitive team”, Hughes stated. “I think they’re third in their league at the moment and on a really good run of form. We know it’s going to be a tough test but we’re ready for it.”

In the previous round, a last-gasp Jordan Gent header secured a 2-2 draw at home to Brimsdown, before The Bloods prevailed 3-1 on penalties in a dramatic, nail-biting tie. It was clear on the day that the coaching staff appreciated the efforts of the sizeable home crowd, and Hughes once again stated the importance of the fans in backing the team.

“We imagine that there’s going to be a good following tomorrow”, Hughes predicts. “It’s a fantastic club with a great environment and wonderful people, March will also be bringing a coachload of fans down so it will be a good occasion, with two Step 5 teams going at it.”

Hughes’ Bloods sit 6th in the Essex Senior League table going into this fixture and are unbeaten in 90 minutes since mid-September – something that the boss wants to bring into tomorrow’s Vase tie.

“We’ve done OK in recent weeks, I think we’re 10, maybe 11 games unbeaten in 90 minutes, so it’s been a while since we’ve been beaten”, Hughes explains. “We’re a good team and we have a fantastic group, so we’re looking forward to tomorrow. It will be a test, but we’ll be ready for sure.”

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
  OPINION: Essex Senior League: 2025/26 Preview & Predictions     The Essex Senior League is among the most competitive and high-profile Step 5 leagues in the country. As well as being impossible to predict (who would’ve tipped both Stanway Rovers and Takeley for promotion last year?), the division, consisting of 20 sides from across Essex and East London, is full of quality that is often slept on, given that this is the 9 th tier of English football – every year a handful of players earn moves to clubs in much higher divisions. Who will be the breakout stars of the season? That remains to be seen, but in the meantime, let me put my neck on the line and attempt the impossible task of predicting the Essex Senior League table for the 2025/26 season.   20 th – Ilford   This Essex Senior League campaign will be arguably the most competitive in the competition’s history, with plenty of teams who have enough on paper to challenge for promotion....
Read more
Image
Nunes late winner defeats resolute Villa   Mateus Nunes scores a late winner for City.   Mateus Nunes’ first Premier League goal for Manchester City gave Pep Guardiola’s side a priceless victory in the race for a Champions League finish, defeating Aston Villa 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday evening. Bernardo Silva put City ahead from 12 yards after seven minutes following good work from Omar Marmoush, before Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford, who put in a dynamic display, coolly scored from the penalty spot shortly after, following good work from Jacob Ramsey to draw a foul from Ruben Dias. Villa frustrated City throughout the match, not letting them break through their solid defence, right until stoppage time when they were beaten by Nunes, who appeared at the back post getting on the end of Jeremy Doku’s low cross and sending the home fans into raptures. Both teams rotated their starting teams from the previous match, with one eye on their respective upcoming FA ...
Read more
Image
  The 11th-tier Essex football club with a connection to Celtic   Catholic United, playing in Step 7 in the English non-league game, have a unique connection to one of Scotland's biggest clubs Back in 1968, Essex-based team Catholic United were in their infancy. Founded in 1959 as a way to keep the catholic community together in Southend, they just reached a local cup final but needed a kit to play in, so they reached out to Celtic chairman Bob Kelly, who sent a full set of green and white kits. Catholic won the cup final, and have worn the green and white hoops, made famous by the Scottish giants, ever since, and the constitution of the club mandates that the team’s colours remain the famous green and white hoops as a nod to the historic gesture from Kelly and Celtic. Catholic United chairman Tom Harding describes the Essex Bhoys as a 'unique club' While there is no formal affiliation between the two clubs, being independent entities, their bond is maintained on ...
Read more