Cup Final Countdown - Formby
Wed 16th April 2014 | Formby | By Ian Templeman
Formby joint-manager Jim Shirley will be warning his side to draw on recent experiences when they face Hanley Town in tomorrow night's First Division Challenge Trophy final at the Millbank Linnets Stadium.
As well as having two close fought games with Hanley in the league this season, Jim is determined that his side will make amends for their performance in last season's final of the League Challenge Cup, when they lost 3-0 to Runcorn Linnets.
"You can never make up for losing in a cup final, and I think that for all the time I have been involved at Formby that was the most disappointing game", said Jim. "A lad who writes a non-league blog who was at the game, wrote afterwards that we were like rabbits caught in headlights, and we were.
"We had a lot of young players in the side, and my management style is not to be screaming and shouting but I couldn't control myself at half time, because our lads just did not turn up in the first half.
"This year we've probably got more experience, and we can draw on the experience of last year, because that feeling we had at the end of that game is the worst feeling in the world, and you feel that you have let people down.
"Sometimes you come up against a team and you are not going to beat them, they are a better team, but you want your own lads to play to their own full capabilities. I just couldn't understand it how we could go to a game like that and not do ourselves justice.
"I don't think the lads who played in that game will need any motivation, because they won't want to hear me going on at them like that again".
As far as opponents Hanley Town are concerned, Jim is expecting that they will provide formidable opposition on the night.
"We played Hanley early in the season down there, and we drew 1-1 but I thought we were much the better side and deserved to win", he said.
"But while they got a bit of luck down there and got a draw, up at our place recently, we were very fortunate to get away with a win. We only won with a penalty in the 93rd minute, and they dominated us in the second half.
"I know we are in for a very tough game because they are a very resilient side and they play good football. I think it's going to be a tremendous final".
Cup Final Countdown - Formby
Wed 16th April 2014 | Formby
By Ian Templeman
Formby joint-manager Jim Shirley will be warning his side to draw on recent experiences when they face Hanley Town in tomorrow night's First Division Challenge Trophy final at the Millbank Linnets Stadium.
As well as having two close fought games with Hanley in the league this season, Jim is determined that his side will make amends for their performance in last season's final of the League Challenge Cup, when they lost 3-0 to Runcorn Linnets.
"You can never make up for losing in a cup final, and I think that for all the time I have been involved at Formby that was the most disappointing game", said Jim. "A lad who writes a non-league blog who was at the game, wrote afterwards that we were like rabbits caught in headlights, and we were.
"We had a lot of young players in the side, and my management style is not to be screaming and shouting but I couldn't control myself at half time, because our lads just did not turn up in the first half.
"This year we've probably got more experience, and we can draw on the experience of last year, because that feeling we had at the end of that game is the worst feeling in the world, and you feel that you have let people down.
"Sometimes you come up against a team and you are not going to beat them, they are a better team, but you want your own lads to play to their own full capabilities. I just couldn't understand it how we could go to a game like that and not do ourselves justice.
"I don't think the lads who played in that game will need any motivation, because they won't want to hear me going on at them like that again".
As far as opponents Hanley Town are concerned, Jim is expecting that they will provide formidable opposition on the night.
"We played Hanley early in the season down there, and we drew 1-1 but I thought we were much the better side and deserved to win", he said.
"But while they got a bit of luck down there and got a draw, up at our place recently, we were very fortunate to get away with a win. We only won with a penalty in the 93rd minute, and they dominated us in the second half.
"I know we are in for a very tough game because they are a very resilient side and they play good football. I think it's going to be a tremendous final".
