WOODBRIDGE Town manager Dave Hubbick today gave notice that the season is not finished despite going out of three cup competitions.Now in his fifth season in charge of the Jewson League Premier Division club, Hubbick has led Woodbridge on a number of lengthy and exciting cup runs.

By Elvin King

WOODBRIDGE Town manager Dave Hubbick today gave notice that the season is not finished despite going out of three cup competitions.

Now in his fifth season in charge of the Jewson League Premier Division club, Hubbick has led Woodbridge on a number of lengthy and exciting cup runs.

Two seasons ago the Suffolk side lost to Ramsgate in the quarter-final of the FA Carlsberg Vase while they were close to a place in the first round proper of the FA Cup when narrowly beaten by St Albans in 1997/98.

On the cup front it has all gone wrong this term, leaving an air of despondency hanging over Notcutt's Park.

Two late, late goals earned Diss Town victory in an FA Cup tie, and then two surprise defeats at Jewson League Haverhill Rovers removed Woodbridge from both the Vase and the League Cup.

"It is a blow to have no cup runs to look forward to," said Hubbick today. "But our season is not finished.

"We finished in the top seven in the league for the last two seasons, and my aim is to improve on that. Our cup runs cost us a lot of points in the past as the season tailed off and we were left to play a lot of league matches in a short space of time.

"We can now get our teeth into the league programme and move up from mid-table."

Woodbridge play at Great Yarmouth tomorrow with striker Ian Brown in their squad. The former professional made his Woodbridge debut in the midweek when he came on as substitute in the defeat at Haverhill in the League Cup.

He was previously with Witham Town in the Ryman League. Hubbick puts the exits from cup competitions down to a limited time together.

He explained: "I have brought in some fresh faces and before they could get bedded down we faced three cup games. It is strange to be in this position."

Woodbridge do not have the financial clout to compete with the 'big boys' in the Jewson League, but Hubbick has always had a squad good enough to compete with the best.

With Mark Keeley struggling for ten months to overcome a bad ankle injury and former Ipswich Town defender Darren Oxbrow also out at the moment with ankle trouble, Ian Williams has been playing with a succession of central defensive partners.

This has not helped the stability of the side, and with Neil Shade and Mark Burgess having moved on (to Witham and Whitton respectively) Hubbick's defensive alternatives have been reduced.

He brought his side back from fancied Lowestoft with a win under their belts earlier this season and will be looking to gain similar success just a little further up the coast tomorrow.

Those looking to escape all the hype of England's World Cup clash with Greece could do worse than pay a visit to Dellwood Avenue where Felixstowe and Walton United take on newcomers Swaffham.

In the First Division, Hadleigh United travel to March where a win is on the cards against a side that has been struggling for a number of years.

It is highly doubtful whether a switch to tonight to avoid the England game will result in any increase in interest – but full marks for trying.

In the Premier Division, Ipswich Wanderers visit Diss Town, while in Division One Needham Market entertain Thetford and Whitton United are at home King's Lynn Reserves.