Boston eye Cup delight
BOSS Chris Conway is praying for a slice of luck to see little BOSTON SPARTANS lift the prestigious County Challenge Trophy.
BOSS Chris Conway is praying for a slice of luck to see little BOSTON SPARTANS lift the prestigious County Challenge Trophy.
Conway's Spartans face the biggest game in their history on Monday when they tackle awesome East End Park at the County's HQ at Woodlesford (kick-off 7.30pm).
It is by far the club's proudest moment and Spartans have laid on a 38 seat coach for players and fans to enjoy the occasion.
East End lead Boston's division and their amazing league record reads 21 victories and three draws from their 24 matches.
One of those victories came against Spartans but Conway is hoping his Boston underdogs can pull off a shock.
"Hopefully we can get that little bit of luck and bring the trophy home," said Conway.
"East End Park are a real big strong side, very strong from back to front.
"Right through the team they are very strong and it will be a tough, tough game but if our lads perform on the night we have a chance.
"We did the double over them last year in the league - they beat us 3-0 this year but we had players out and I'm confident we can cause them a problem or two."
Conway also insists that win, lose or draw his players deserve extraordinary credit for getting this far.
"I was lucky enough to be involved when we won the Barkston Ash Cup as a player and that was big then.
"But to get to a County Cup Final is just a massive achievement for this club," he said.
"A County Cup final at Woodlesford - it's the place to be and with the squad we have, to still be in the hunt for promotion and in a County Cup Final I've nothing but praise for them."
Spartans also remain just in the promotion frame though Tuesday's 5-2 defeat at home to Stanley United and Saturday's 2-0 loss at Featherstone hardly helped their cause.
BARDSEY also have a cup final approaching fast and boss Steve Larner admits tomorrow's trip to Beeston (2.30pm) is his players' last chance to impress.
Bardsey tackle Barnoldswick Town in the County Challenge Cup Final a week today and Larner admits cup final spots are still up for grabs.
"Rob Dickinson is suspended and he'll be playing in the cup final but as for everyone else we still have a core of 17 players," said Larner.
"It's tragic as Ian Philiskirk our 'keeper broke his ribs in the first five minutes at Ripon.
"Everyone else is in with a shout and the situation I wouldn't want is to have 17 or 18 on the night with two or three not even getting a shirt.
"A win at Beeston would be a good confidence booster."
Bardsey had been in poor form of late but beat Whitkirk 4-1 on Saturday with strikes from Liam Robinson, Matthew Carry, Mike Toney and Dickinson.
Bardsey then beat Wetherby 2-1 on Wednesday night and Larner is relieved to see the usual sparkle starting to return.
"It was a great result at Whitkirk and we needed it as since our win in the County Cup semi-final, we've been atrocious," said Larner.
Meanwhile, boss Des English is calling for one last push from WETHERBY ATHLETIC ahead of their last four league games.
Wetherby host Pool tomorrow (2.30pm) and then entertain Ripon City on Wednesday (6.15pm) and English is calling for Athletic to end on a high.
"I don't want the season to be ending on a bad note and we've got to be looking at picking up as many points as we can," said English.
"We've got four games left so let's see how many points we can get."
On Saturday, Wetherby slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Street Work Soccer - Brian Ross on the mark.
However, English took blame for the defeat after trying an experimental formation.
"To be honest if we'd have played our normal formation we'd have won the game," said English.
"I felt the lads played pretty well and they didn't do a lot wrong.
"If we maintain that sort of form we'll be all right as long as the manager picks the right team!"
Finally, SHERBURN visit newly crowned champions Carlton tomorrow (2.30pm) with five players on a stag do but boss Nick Peacock is looking forward to the challenge.
Several members of Sherburn's squad are off to Krakow but Peacock will give other players the chance to shine.
"It's a tall order but I see it as an opportunity to give some players starts who have not started and not played for the first team," said Peacock.
"It's valuable experience."
Sherburn then visit Knaresborough on Wednesday (6.15pm) - a key game to Sherburn's finishing position.
"We need to see if we can win that one as a victory keeps us above them and we just want to finish as strong as we can," said Peacock.
On Saturday, Peacock was relishing taking apart Field's 3-5-2 formation and though goals from Marc Bradley and Scott Williams only set up a draw, Peacock felt the game should have been done and dusted by half-time.
"With them playing a back three we got behind them and created an awful lot of chances," he said.
"We were the best team in the first half and the game should have been over."
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Last Updated:
24 April 2008 4:09 PM
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Harrogate