Witham Town are up and running

By dward

HAVING pulled off the first FA Cup shock of the season by beating arch-rivals Maldon Town 4-1 in Tuesday's Preliminary Round replay, Witham Town manager Tony Last is demanding his players "do it all again" this Saturday.

"I want an exact repeat performance when we go to Thamesmead in the Ryman League Division One North this weekend," said Last yesterday (Wednesday).

"We're bottom of the table, without a win and without a point, and I know we are much better than that because the players showed that on Tuesday."

Fielding several youngsters in his side for both Saturday's 3-3 draw against Maldon and in the replay win, Last feels it vindicates his team selection.

"They've done fantastic particularly 18-year-old Ricky Leftly in the heart of defence and 16-year-old Rory Bone," said Last. "All the youngsters are doing well and taking on the responsibility of more experienced players."

Admittedly Maldon missed the prowess of the suspended striker Cody McDonald in the replay but that doesn't take anything away from their win claimed Last.

"We survived a hard first 20 minutes in which our 20-year-old goalkeeper Rhys Madden pulled off four great saves," he said. "From then onwards all the players were brilliant and I felt we played them off the park and fully deserved our win."

Witham were without the suspended Gareth Dawson for the replay but Will Morris did play despite being stretchered off to hospital in the first game.

Morris suffered concussion following an accidental clash of heads with a Maldon player but he discharged himself on Saturday evening.

Town will travel to Wingate & Finchley in the next round and Last explained: "We've also a score to settle with them having recently gone there in the league with a really under-strength side and lost 5-1.

"Obviously the £1,500 from winning this round helps the club but it's more about getting into the winning habit.

"I've always said that bringing the youngsters in will pay dividends and it has already.

"They are doing so well that when the more experienced players return from injury they will have to fight really hard to try and regain their place."

Last regards the Thamesmead match as a "must win three-pointer" and is looking to see the renewed confidence in his side when they take on Redbridge at home in the league on Tuesday.

"Obviously while the cup is an extra it's getting league points on the board that is the most important because no way should we be at the bottom," he said. "I knew this season was going to be hard but the performances of the youngsters has given everyone a big lift at the club."