Neil Woods on Thursday's showdown with Basford...
NEIL Woods will look to lead the club to successive Midland Youth Cup victories this week as his latest set of starlets aim to emulate the success of the 2014/15 squad.The youth team travel to Nottinghamshire on Thursday evening to take on Basford in the Final, 7.00pm kickoff.
Still riding high in the North West Division, Wood’s side are still fighting on duel fronts but with the Cup Final just days away, we decided to speak to the man at the helm of the clubs Academy system and reflect on the road to the final.
First Round v Burton Albion: 2-1 AET
We went one nil up with a decent goal, and they literally equalised in the 92nd minute. We played really well and even better when we went into extra time. I think everyone there including the Burton staff agreed that the result was the right one on the night. We were consistent for whole of the game and got deserved outcome.
Second Round v Ilkeston: 3-0
It was a case of more of the same following the Burton result. We stormed into a 3-0 lead in the first half and it was probably one of the most fluid footballing displays we’ve put on all season. They caught us on a very good evening and the only slight disappointment is that we didn’t add any more goals. Our Energy and movement on the night was extremely good. \
Semi Final v Boston United: 6-0
On what was a very testing surface, the quality of football we played was outstanding at times. We scored two stunning early goals and managed to keep our performance levels up all the way through. Watching them from the sidelines, it would be very easy to dismiss the surface due to the quality we played. What pleased me most was how such a young side dealt with the pressure of a semi-final.
Final v Basford?
We have to carry on playing the way we’ve played all season but particularly since the turn of the year. We will give Basford the same respect we’d give any other team. But we will concentrate on ourselves and on what we are trying to deliver. It’s a cup final so the two teams are there on merit. It’s a situation we’d like to put the boys in there more often., just to see who enjoys it, who handles the responsibility and how they come through the occasion.
Last year was a smashing way to finish the season for the boys and with the way we’ve played this year it would be nice to do the same. Some of the football we’ve played this campaign has been as good as any team I’ve managed in the last five years so it would be a fitting way to end the season.