HARBOROUGH TOWN | HUGSY MALONE

Experienced front-man helps shoot his team to Emirates FA Cup success

The two Pitching In Southern League representatives involved in the weekend’s Emirates FA Cup first round did us extremely proud by both securing impressive away wins.

For Premier Central club, Harborough Town, in their first-ever appearance at this stage of the competition, they were able to breeze past a Tonbridge Angels outfit from the level above with relative ease as they chalked up a 4-1 victory.

The experienced Paul Malone set them on their way with the opening goal as half-time approached as they went on to secure a second round away tie at Sky Bet League One Reading.

“It’s hard to sum up Saturday,” Malone admitted to us. “We felt like we could go there and cause an upset; we had a plan and stuck to the script.

“The feeling afterwards with our fans was amazing. I joined this club four years ago at Step 5, so to be where we are now is absolutely incredible.

“From top to bottom, the club is full of top people, who all give up their time voluntarily and to be able to play my part in helping to make history for this special club is a real honour and privilege.

“Our reward is a trip to Reading, a fantastic stadium and a Sky Bet League One club, so it’s going to be another occasion for us to savour and enjoy with no pressure.

“I don’t think anyone would have thought we would come up the leagues so quickly and now to also be in the FA Cup second round, it’s one of those fantastic stories that football sometimes conjures up.

“We haven’t had the best of starts in the League, if we are being honest; sometimes an FA Cup run can take its toll, but believe me, we will get it right and begin to climb the table, using this adventure to inspire us

“For me personally it’s been a frustrating season so far. After missing the majority of last season with a broken arm, to get sent off in the first game of the season and then pick up another injury once I had got back in, it’s been tough. Luckily I have great people around me in my family and the club.

“As for the rest of the season, we haven’t really set a target as such as it’s the clubs first season at Step 3. Mid-table would be respectable considering our start; I’ve been around long enough to know that at this level, if you can get a winning streak of five games or so you’ll climb the table.

“The League this season has such fine margins; you get punished a lot more for mistakes. It’s very competitive, which everyone who’s involved always agrees, we are enjoying being amongst some big clubs.

“We don’t fear anyone; we will turn the corner in the league I’m sure and on a personal level, I’m aiming to just keep enjoying it, as I ain’t getting any younger!”

This weekend the Bees return to home League action with the visit of Royston Town.

IMAGE: RB Media

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