BLUES WARE IT WELL FOR A BIG PUSH
WARE boss Paul Halsey admits losing last season’s play-off final still hurts – but says his players have the hunger to exorcise their demons.
The Blues currently sit in the final play-off place in Southern League Division One Central table having lost last season’s showdown to North Leigh, who only qualified for the knockout stages after Welwyn Garden City were removed for failing to meet ground grading regulations.
The defeat has been the driving force behind the Hertfordshire club’s ambitions this season as Halsey looks to go one better and finally take the club to Step 3.
“To bounce back after last season took a bit of time,” he told The NLP. “It still hurts even today losing that final, we had to try and bring in new players as some players left or retired and we just built again really.
“We have that spirit and camaraderie in and around with the players but even still for certain players it’s still there.
“Our intentions are to try and go up this year and we are making hard work of it like last year. the aim is the play-offs again but I still see the hunger and desire from the players, especially the ones who lost that final – they want to put it right.”
Indeed, with leaders Berkhamsted 18 points clear at the top before yesterday, it’s just the play-offs to play at Wodson Park this season with the Blues two points clear of Kidlington going into yesterday’s matches.
Halsey is making sure the squad is focused for the run in and setting his sights high.
“We need to finish this season in a strong position,” the Blues boss added. “Losing is a horrible feeling, my wife will tell you that!
“We have to get that winning mentality back.”
● Struggling FC Romania have suffered been deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player – a penalty which sees them tumble to the bottom of the Southern Division One Central table.
An FA panel found that that Wolves fielded goalkeeper Matt Boylan from the start of their game with Hadley FC on Saturday November 5 before his registration application had been fully approved.