Hatters face promotion ‘cup final’ in league clash
STOCKPORT County may be on the verge of their first FA Trophy final at Wembley, but boss Jim Gannon wants his players and the crowd to turn Edgeley Park into their own Wembley on Saturday.
The in-form Hatters made it 21 games unbeaten when they shocked National League Maidstone 3-0 on Tuesday night to secure a place in the semi-finals of the trophy for the first time.
They will face another National League club Fylde in a two-legged clash on March 16 and 23, with the winners heading to Wembley.
But first, County have what manager Gannon is calling a cup final of their own on Saturday when they host National League North rivals Spennymoor.
A crowd of about 5,000 is expected at Edgeley, with Spennymoor laying on free travel from County Durham to the game for their fans.
County will go into the match in second place, a spot above their visitors, but Town do have a game in hand and are only a point adrift.
So Gannon wants his men to forget about the Trophy campaign and be fully focused on the battle to win promotion back to the top flight of nonleague football. “I am just looking forward to the big cup final on Saturday,” said Gannon.
“I know it is a cliché but every game is a cup final at this stage of the season and this Saturday is a massive game for us.
“It is great being in a semi-final, but Saturday can be huge for us in terms of our long-term plan for the club and what we want to achieve.
“But we need to turn Edgeley Park into Wembley for what we feel will be a big cup final on Saturday.
“It is going to be a great advert for this league and any neutral would be happy to go to this one.
“There is a real old battle going on for the play-off spots and no one can rest on their laurels.
“The onus is on us to go out and win the game.
“I thought it was a real test of our professionalism as a group, I think the professionalism of what we have done over the last few months and weeks and in the last 48 hours showed through.”
And Gannon admits his squad have already shown him more than he expected this season, whatever happens in the league and the Trophy.
“I am pleased for the lads they have secured a place in the semi-finals because they have been excellent and outperformed anything I expected from them.”
We need to turn Edgeley Park into Wembley for what we feel will be a cup final Jim Gannon