BURY Town manager Richard Wilkins reflected on his side's FA Vase defeat to Hillingdon and admitted they “missed the biggest opportunity they are ever likely to get”.

By Mike Bacon

BURY Town manager Richard Wilkins reflected on his side's FA Vase defeat to Hillingdon and admitted they “missed the biggest opportunity they are ever likely to get”.

And while obviously still disappointed by the result, Wilkins, more worryingly as far as Bury should be concerned, admitted that after six years in charge at Ram Meadow he wasn't sure how much further he could take the club.

“It was a major, major disappointment,” Wilkins said this week.

“We were naïve and the fact we were better in the second game means nothing. The winning goal from them was a shambles from our point of view and we haven't conceded a goal like that all season.

“I don't think we were ruthless enough, we were too nice if you like. I'm not faulting the players' effort, but in situations like a big semi-final, it is not always the team that plays the football that wins, it is the team that wants it more.

“We lost because they wanted it more.”

Wilkins has never been a man to shout the odds of his team's chances and tell the world how good his side is. He quietly and efficiently has got on with producing a young master-class of talent at Ram Meadow, assisted by the West Suffolk College.

It has been a partnership that has woken up many other Ridgeons League clubs for the need to develop their own talent.

But Wilkins probably knows he needs more than just youngsters to make the club a big success.

“After six years I don't know how much further I can take the club,” he added. “We need an out-and-out goalscorer for a start. Steve McGavin is our leading scorer, but many of his goals have come in cup games.

“If you look at clubs in the top half of the table they all have at least one player in the top scorers' charts.

“Not since Ian Stringfellow have we had a 20-plus goals a season man. And he only played for peanuts because he was happy to play, being a local lad.

“We played against Clacton last week and got eight goals, with eight different goalscorers - that must be some sort of record.

“If Sudbury or Lowestoft had gotten eight then at least one player would have got three or four, but not us.”