FORMER FA Cup winner Rob Wolleaston accused some of his Harrow Borough team-mates of lacking hunger following Tuesday night’s embarrassing FA Cup exit at North Greenford.
The Borough skipper has a cup winner’s medal from his days at Stamford Bridge as a member of the winning squad against Aston Villa in 1999-2000 so has an understandable passion for the famous old trophy.
Consequently, the now 33-year-old was left dumfounded when having limped out of Tuesday’s action with a recurrence of a hamstring injury in the first half of their 2-1 defeat, he witnessed little more than the raising of the white flag in the second period.
“We didn’t come out at all second half and it looked like they wanted it more than we did, he said.
“It was the same as the first game really in that they looked hungrier than us and like a team who were a level above us as well rather than the other way around.
“I don’t know what some of the players are thinking, I’m just in shock at the moment. Seriously I don’t know what to say.
“And God only knows how we missed so many chances first half. We should have been cruising and the game should have been finished – it’s embarrassing.”
Boss Dave Anderson confirmed his stance after the first game that win or lose last night some had ‘kicked their last ball for the club and won’t see the red shirt again,’ while Wolleaston insisted whoever remained after the cull would have to buck their ideas up to stop Borough being dragged into another relegation scrap.
He said: “The boss has said three or four players will be leaving so we will have to wait and see who turns up tonight (Thursday) or not. We need to do something though and quickly.
“Some of the young boys – whoever is left after the cull – have got to grow up fast now.”
Wolleaston himself looks likely to survive Anderson’s latest bout of surgery, but his hamstring niggle will almost certainly confine him to a watching brief again for the time being.
In hindsight, the midfield general admitted he had come back too soon in a bid to provide the on-field voice of authority and leadership his manager claimed was missing from the first encounter between the sides.
He is optimistic, however, he should not be out for too long.
He added: “I just felt it go again, but I don’t think it is as bad as the last time I did it. The physio has suggested it might be a nerve thing where I have just tweaked it a bit.
“I think I’ll be alright if I let it rest and settle down properly instead of rushing back into it.
“I had not even had a proper training session before playing tonight. I was gutted to come off because you just want to play every game.”
Meanwhile, Borough’s tenants Hendon avoided a cup upset of their own as they thumped Biggleswade United 7-1 on Sunday to book a home tie with Conference south side Bishop’s Stortford.
