Win, lose or draw at Craik Park on Saturday, Bowers & Pitsea will be making the most of their long trip north with a night on the town.
And with their FA Vase semi-final first leg with Morpeth Town ending 2-2, Bowers boss Rob Small still believes he could be popping champagne corks.
After just 32 minutes of the first leg at Len Salmon Stadium, Small’s Wembley dreams looked all but over as visitors Morpeth led 2-0 following a superb 40-yard chip from Sean Taylor and a close-range finish from Michael Chilton.
Morpeth Town v Bowers & Pitsea
FA Vase semi-final second leg
Craik Park
3pm, Saturday 19 March
But the hosts were in no mood to wave the white flag and after the break Lewis Manor halved the deficit before Alfie Hilton hit an 89th-minute equaliser.
And Small is delighted Bowers got their act together ahead of the 600-mile round trip to Morpeth.
“It was a feeling of relief come the final whistle after the first leg,” he said. “It was a classic game of two halves and if it was a boxing match then they would have thrown in the towel in that first half.
“We just didn’t get going and weren’t at the races in the first 45 minutes. We were lucky to only be trailing 2-0.
“We had a conversation at half-time and the boys came out fighting like they have done all season and we have made sure it is all to play for heading to their place.
“Whatever happens come the final leg we will be out on the ‘toon’ that night. We are up there for the weekend and we will be making the most of the long trip and we are going out on Saturday night.
“And that’s because whatever the outcome we have done ourselves proud. I don’t think any expected little Bowers & Pitsea to get this far and now we are just 90 minutes away from Wembley.
“You only have to look at the company we are keeping – Halifax, Salisbury and Morpeth – to realise what a good job we have done and we are all really proud of that.
“Having said that, I think a few of the guys will be heading north with their pride hurting and looking to set that right, so before we think about any of that we have a game to win.”
While Small felt relief at the final whistle, Morpeth manager Nick Gray would have undoubtedly been left disappointed.
But the Highwaymen boss insists scoring two goals away was no mean feat, and is hopeful the long trip north from Essex for Bowers will hand his hosts the advantage.
“It’s funny because half the people say ‘2-2, well done, you’re still in this tie’ and the other half say ‘you threw away a two-goal lead’,” said Gray.
“But the way I see it is we scored two goals away from home and now they have to come to our place, which is not easy, especially for them.
“We know that six-hour journey on a bus takes it out of you, even if you come the day before.
“So it is all still to play for, but we are confident and the game can’t come quickly enough for us.”
