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Gresley prepare for Vase bruiser
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Frank Northwood takes his glory hunting Gresley Rovers down to Essex today pledging: “We’ll never try to kick our way to Wembley.”
Northwood is expecting a tough, physical battle with Jewson Eastern League outfit Harwich and Parkeston for a place in the FA Vase semi-finals tomorrow but insists: “Football will always come out on top.”And the veteran Moat chief reckons Tuesday’s bruising Banks’s League draw against Rocester was proof of the football purist’s pudding.
“We knew there was going to be a lot of aggression in that game but it was a good test. We feel we might be getting some of the same at Harwich but it was us playing football that came out on top against Rocester and I’m sure football will win the day again tomorrow.”
Northwood prefers Stuart Stokes to Craig Weston on the right side of midfield for the biggest game in Rovers’ recent history but otherwise names an unchallenged side.
And he insisted last night that Gresley’s preparations for the game would be second to none.
Rovers check into a Clacton-on-Sea hotel tonight with Northwood determined to ensure that every detail was right for putting his team in the right frame of mind.
“It’s been suggested that we’re moving into the big time with our build-up for the game but I feel that Gresley Rovers are already a big club – and they can get even bigger from here,” he said.
“We’ve checked Harwich out and we know that while their league performances haven’t been anything to set the world on fire they have saved their best form for the cups. I understand they beat Fisher Athletic in the FA Cup so we know what we’re up against."
