Sponsored by
Town learning lessons in a bid to top semi-final class
THETFORD Town manager Mark Scott is determined to go one step further than last season as he aims to take the Brecklanders to the Norfolk Senior Cup final for the first time in 21 years.
Town missed the chance to reach the final, which is held at Premier League Norwich City’s Carrow Road, last season after getting to the same stage of the competition before suffering an emphatic 5-1 defeat to Kings Lynn.
However, Scott believes his side will have learnt their lessons as they aim to emulate the champion winning side of 1991 starting with victory in the semi-final visit of Anglian Combination League side Norwich St Johns at Mundford Road tomorrow (3pm), weather permitting.
“Without doubt we have learnt from last season’s elimination but without being disrespectful to Norwich St Johns, that was against a different class of opponent,” he said.
“We are expected to win this time and that different pressure on us because this is their final.
“We have been suffering from a wobble in form at the moment and this is their best opportunity to get through.
“However we have prepared well and are fully focused ahead of the match.
“We know where we went wrong last year, we now need to be together as a squad, win one game and get to the final.”
Thetford’s preparations for the match have been far from ideal as like most, have seen their fixture list ravaged by the wintery cold snap currently engulfing the county, meaning they have missed out on <four> games in all competitions, including <Tuesaday’s League Knockout cup second round tie against March Town>.
Scott admitted he has been far from happy with the lack of match action but reiterated his desire to reach the competition’s showpiece final as he feels it is just the reward his side deserves.
“I would have liked to have gone into the match with a couple of matches under our belt but everyone is in the same boat,” he added.
“However our mindset is right and we are properly prepared for the match.
“It would be huge for us to make the final and would prove to everyone what we have achieved.
“For me the players here deserve to run out at Carrow Road and that would demonstrate just how far we have come.”
The only noticeable absentee tomorrow could be Dave Richards, who serves a suspension as the trio of Matt Howard, Luke Bailey and midfield maestro Bruno Tavares are all set to return for Town after recovering from injury.
Another player who could be involved is Nathan Szyslyk after Scott admitted the striker had impressed in recent weeks.
“Another positive for us is the emergence of Nathan Szyslyk in recent weeks,” he added.
“He has been scoring goals in the reserves and he is certainly playing his way into my thoughts.”
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Bury St Edmunds
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.