Saddlers Head Coach Mat Sadler was pleased with the professionalism of his players during Friday night’s 4-1 win over Sheppey United in the first round of the Emirates FA Cup.
Goals from Douglas James-Taylor, Tom Knowles, Ross Tierney and Isaac Hutchinson saw the Saddlers secure themselves a spot in the second round, where they will now take on Alfreton Town away from home.
Despite falling a goal behind to Sheppey on the night, the overall work rate from his group and their attitude towards the game on the evening was one of the most pleasing aspects of the victory for the Head Coach.
“Professional is a really good word for it, I think determined is probably another good one as well,” began Sadler.
“It was all set up for something that could have been really horrible, we were all aware of that coming into the game and if I am honest with you, I didn’t mention that, I focused purely on how I wanted us to play which I thought we did.
“I thought we were relentless in how we worked, we were relentless in the press which created loads of opportunities for us.
“We played forward, we ran forward in the way that we spoke about during the week and we showed a bit of character having gone 1-0 down against the run of play with what was a good goal.
“It could have been more, I am pleased with the four and it ends up being a really good night.
“I just felt like that the way we started the game, we were always going to get more chances with the athleticism that I had, I knew that they would tire and I know that I have got a group that would keep going on the night and I always felt like we were going to get that result.
“In some respects it is a perfect football night for all concerned in terms of they get their little bit of a magic moment and they have earned that for what they have done, let’s not forget the part that Sheppey had to play tonight in the game.
“They have put on a good show but I spoke about it before the game about us wanting to create our own memories in this competition and create our moments from it, we had that last season with the Leicester game and we want to have some more of those memories.
“We know the ramifications of what having a good cup run can be from a financial point of view.
“Take the financial side out of it, there are some unbelievable memories to be had in it. Sheppey had theirs tonight and now we want ours.”
