United ready for cup upset

WATERSIDE men Newbuildings United are aiming to create a JJB Sports Irish Cup upset this weekend when they travel to Championship Two side Armagh City, in the fourth round (KO 1.30pm).

Wesley Robinson’s side know they go into the tie as underdogs, but having watched this weekends opponents they feel ‘quietly confident’.

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“A few players went and watched Armagh play Dungiven in the Intermediate Cup and although they won 1-0, the players feel they weren’t that special and because of that we are quietly confident of causing a shock, not overly confident, just quietly confident,” admitted Robinson.

“The one thing which the players said about Armagh was that they were a big physical side and I have to admit that I’m worried about us defending from set-pieces.

“Over the last few years we have managed to go that one step further in the Irish Cup, some maybe this year we can go those two steps and reach the fifth round.”

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Having scored 20 goals in their previous three ties in cups, Newbuildings certainly go into the game full of confidence.

“We have played 16 games in all competitions this season and we have won 14 and lost to Institute in the Craig Memorial Cup and Oxford United at the start of the season, when a lot of our players were still playing cricket, so yes the season is going well so far,” added the Newbuildings boss.

“Despite our good form every single player will have to be at their best on Saturday if we want to cause an upset, but because of our form we’ll travel to Armagh not intimidated by them but we’ll respect them, because at the end of the day it wasn’t that long ago that they were in the Premiership.”

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Robinson also admits that like everyone at the club he started to dream about pitty his wits against the likes David Jeffrey, Ronnie McFall or Scott Young, since his side’s first round win over Hanover.

“I have started to dream about playing the likes of Linfield, Glentoran or Cliftonville, after our 9-1 win over Hanover in the first round,” joked Robinson.

“If the game had have been at our place then we would have fancied ourselves more, but no matter if we want to try and face either Linfield, Glentoran or Cliftonville then we have to be at our best at Armagh, on Saturday.

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“To be honest if we do get past Armagh, then I personally would love to face Cliftonville as I used to play for them and they are the in-form team in the country at the minute, but as I have said we’ll only start worrying about the big teams if we can beat Armagh.”