Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Football: Tubbs keen to prove Howe wrong
LOCAL lad Matt Tubbs insists he is well and truly over his abrupt Cherries exit and is targeting the perfect stage to prove it a Wembley final.[LNB] The Verwood-based striker has been in fine form for Conference outfit Salisbury City this season shrugging off the disappointment of his Dean Court knockback to net 16 league goals.[LNB] He will be tasked with firing the Whites to within touching distance of the FA Trophy final when they host Barrow in a semi-final first leg tomorrow (3pm).[LNB] But the 25-year-old's current good fortune is in stark contrast to the cruel twist of fate which ended his brief foray into the Football League last term.[LNB] Having scored once in six league starts on loan for then struggling Cherries, Tubbs looked set to be handed a contract by boss Jimmy Quinn but the ex-Northern Ireland international was shown the door.[LNB] When asked about his time with Cherries, Tubbs admitted his Dean Court demise had acted as a spur.[LNB] He told the Echo: I think it was a case of bad timing really. Eddie and Jason took over and had their plans and that was it.[LNB] I spoke to Jimmy on December 31 and he was keen to sign me but he got sacked after I spoke to him.[LNB] I was eligible to play for Salisbury City after that and didn't hear anything from Bournemouth to say thanks for what I'd done or anything like that. On January 1, I was at Oxford playing for Salisbury.[LNB] I was knocked back a bit but things like that happen. There are lots of cases of bad timing.[LNB] I'm quite strong-minded and just carried on with the job, and this season I have been doing really well.[LNB] Tubbs, who believes he could make the step back up to the Football League, added: It doesn't get much bigger than a final at Wembley. Not just for me but for Salisbury City and all the other lads involved.[LNB] We are a young side and it would be a nice occasion if we could get there.[LNB]
