Wilkinson's Woes Can Be Easily Solved This Saturday

It takes a lot to dampen the spirit of the always energetic Wealdstone manager, but the FA Cup has sucked the life out of him.

Bradley Bubb stepped up very late into their home tie with Sutton United last Saturday but couldn’t convert his penalty to surely send them into the first round.

With the game poised at 1-1, Paul Dowsell’s team then hit them with a sucker punch - going up the other end and scoring within a minute. It was they who went through as the emotional rollercoaster derailed the National League South underdogs.

It took people back to that famous match between Watford and Leicester City in 2013 in the most incredible, ridiculous sequence of events just six miles down the road.

“It got me thinking of that match too and that makes it hurt even more,” the manager told us ahead of their game on Saturday with Torquay United - a feature game across our social media channels.

“I can’t put into words what it felt like. People know me, I’ll always put on a brave face but that was very, very tough. I love the FA Cup and it was up there with my worst games. I was proud of them but it was so painful. It still hurts and it’ll be even worse when the First Round arrives next month.”

The good thing about Wilkinson is that he’s an easy man to pick up off the floor.

A reminder was needed that it wasn’t so long ago that he was in charge of Hungerford Town in the Southern League South and West while Saturday’s opponents Torquay were in the Football League.

Directing his attention to the league table also helped take his mind off things.

Wealdstone have slipped quietly into fourth place and just over a year after taking over the progression of the club is there for all to say.

“Football’s brilliant like that, it’s why we love it - after last weekend it’s nice to see the other side of the game’s unpredictable nature!” he laughed.

“Torquay are a huge club and what a manager they’ve now got in Gary Johnson. It shows the strength of this league now. They’re a big club but what a game, I can’t wait for this match and to test ourselves.

“Maybe as a management team we haven’t quite had the plaudits for what’s been achieved in the past 13 months but I think we’re starting to see the progress we’ve made.

“We’re playing really well and I’m delighted with the first few months. Now we’ve got to do it against another side in good form. It should be a great game.”

Wilkinson has bolstered his midfield options ahead of the game with the signing of Dartford’s Simon Mensah, 27.