FA Cup clash too close to call, says United boss

The U’s will travel to Barton Rovers in a second round qualifying tie where the winners will receive £4,500 from the FA’s prize fund.

United manager Hare said: “It’s going to be a very difficult game. If I was a gambling man I would say it’s even money on both teams.

“We’ve probably had a better start (to the season) than them, but you never know with teams up that way. They’ve got a very high (population) density demographic and there isn’t always synergy between the (different) leagues.”

United have picked up 12 points from their opening six Ryman Football League Division One South matches, while Bedfordshire-based Barton have taken 11 from seven in the equivalent-standing Evo-Stik Southern Football League Division One Central.

“It’s a tricky one for me to call, especially not knowing any of their players,” continued Hare. “All we’ve got to go on is a match report; they’re not outstanding, nor are they not very good. It all depends on how they perform on the day and how we perform on the day.”

Hare hopes that Sam Cole, Simon Johnson and Bright Temba will all be fit after missing the midweek Alan Turvey Trophy tie away to Herne Bay.

Steve Watt may sit the game out after coming off on Tuesday with his calf still not 100 percent, while Stephen Butcher and Barry Cogan - both of whom joined the club at the end of last week - are cup-tied.

Butcher is a defender/midfielder who arrives from Ramsgate having previously come through the youth ranks at Gillingham before joining Maidstone United.

“I think Stephen’s only going to get better once he gets fitter,” said Hare, of a player who made his United debut last weekend within hours of returning from holiday in Ibiza. “Once he does - and he’s one of the fittest players I’ve ever worked with - I think we will have a very good player on our hands.”

Cogan is an experienced attacking midfielder, who played the final 15 minutes of the 2004 FA Cup final for Millwall against Manchester United as a 19-year-old.

The Irishman later had spells at Barnet, Gillingham, Grays Athletic, Crawley Town before making 146 appearances for Dover Athletic from 2010-2015. He has subsequently been at Dartford and, briefly, Leatherhead.

“Barry’s come from a slightly higher level and we’ve got a very good player,” Hare said. “Barry was going to be let go from Leatherhead and as soon as I heard he was available, it really was a case of getting hold of the board. They’ve bent over backwards to try and bring these players in.”

Hare said he learned of Cogan’s potential availability just 20 minutes after holding midfielder Wayne Wilson was released by mutual consent.

The manager said that Wilson, who he describes as a good pal, approached him expressing his intention to ‘take a break’ due largely to commitments at home and at work.

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