Bay face Lowestoft side taking nothing for granted
Published Date:
28 March 2008
WHITLEY BAY have been warned they face determined opposition if they are to complete a seemingly impossible comeback and reach the FA Vase final.
The Seahorses go into Saturday's semi-final at Hillheads four goals behind after a nightmare first meeting in Suffolk last weekend.
And now Lowestoft Town joint boss Micky Chapman is urging his troops to stay focused for the most important 90 minutes of their lives.
The Trawler Boys man is warning his players that the tie is only at the halfway stage and they have plenty to do if they are to realise their dream of running out for a Wembley cup final on May 11.
Speaking to his local paper, the Lowestoft Journal, Chapman said: "It's important we remember we're only half way, although it was great to get the result on Saturday.
"We did it in emphatic style. It was awesome and I can't praise the lads enough.
"The attitude, the application, the work rate and the quality was there for everyone to see and we thoroughly deserved the victory in the manner that we got it.
"But we haven't achieved what we want to at the moment, and the next 90 minutes are the most important of our lives if we want to get to Wembley, which is where we all want to be.
"We must make sure we don't get carried away with the four-goal lead and make sure we're organised, focused and disciplined.
"We're taking nothing for granted."
Town have also had some good news on the injury front after first choice keeper Andy Reynolds, who suffered a dislocated hip in the Crown meadow first leg, has made an amazing recovery and could even be in the squad for the big game.
His place in the starting line-up will go to Adam Rix and Chapman said the Blues have complete trust in the young keeper.
"He's a quality keeper who's going to start on Saturday and we've got every confidence in him and he'll have a really experienced ten in front of him," he said.
Chapman and joint boss Ady Gallagher are likely to field the same outfield ten that started Saturday's victory, although full-back Matty Potter has returned to training after injury and Darren Cockrill returns after suspension.
Meanwhile, Whitley Bay striker Lee Kerr still believes his side can make it to Wembley.
The 21-year-old striker, who has already bagged 30 goals this season, was forced to drop into midfield on Saturday after Brian Rowe was sent off after only 13 minutes.
But the man who has had trials with Newcastle United still thinks his side can overturn the four-goal deficit.
Bay are currently second in Arngrove Northern League and have scored more than four goals in a match 15 times this season, while Kerr needs just two to make it 100 for the club.
He said: "There is no way any of us will give up on going to Wembley without a major fight.
"If we can get the early goal we know that they are certainly a team we can beat at our home ground.
"The fans have a massive part to play and if they are right behind us, like they always are, we can make it to the final."
Lowestoft are expected to have more than 200 noisy fans at Hillheads with a crowd around the 2,000 mark expected.
The full article contains 578 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
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Last Updated:
28 March 2008 5:37 PM
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
North Tyneside