FINISHED YET

Marshall Cup and return to the IPL are Town’s aim

game. We got a 90th minute winner against Moneyslane when they were brilliant. It was the same when we went to Ballymacash.

“We knew we had to be up for every game in this league and they were.

“Winning became a habit for us and we kept it going and I was pleasantly surprised to see that come.”

He added: “We just went about our business without screaming from the rooftops every week.

“The league became more and more important to us as the season progressed but we knew there was no room for error.

“I’m delighted for the boys and also everyone connected with the club off the pitch as well.

“To be honest, I was wanting to take a break from the game and wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Hubert Watson.

“He puts his heart and soul into the club and that makes you want to do well for the man.

“The committee has been brilliant and guys like Barry Taylor and Andy Hamilton on the coaching side deserve a lot of credit.”

Needing just a point from their final home game of the league season on Saturday, it was in little doubt they would take two more than that.

And that outlook changed to one of certainty 15 minutes in when Richard Thompson found the back of the net.

He combined with Aaron Duke twice more for another quickfire hat-trick before half-time with Ryan Gourley making it four.

The one-way traffic continued as soon as the second period began with Glenn Hand fouled in the box and Duke hitting the bar with his penalty.

But Thompson took centrestage once more with his fourth of the afternoon before Duke headed home two more to make it seven.

It leaves them with just one more league fixture to fulfil – away to Valley this evening.

But with those crunch three games still to come, Uprichard admits thoughts are already elsewhere.

He said: “Our target this season was to win the league.

“Getting to the final of the Marshall Cup has been a huge bonus.

“Last season we chopped and changed in the competition but we’ve not done that as much this year.

“Crewe are a very good side with some smashing players but then so do we.

“It’s going to be a case of who wants it more on the night so we’re really looking forward to it.

“We can’t prepare for the playoff yet because we have the cup final and also we don’t know who or when we’ll be playing the play-off.

“No matter who it is we’re playing it’s going to be a great occasion and we’d love it to come quickly rather than trying to keep things ticking over.

“We were in the same situation last season and had to arrange friendlies to keep us at a certain level.”