| Nomads face "16 cup finals" says boss |
| Thursday 11 February 2010 |
 MANAGER Mark McGregor says his Gap Connah’s Quay side faces 16 cup finals after a much-needed success against title-chasing The New Saints last Friday. A Mike Hayes goal ended the deposed leaders' 16-match unbeaten run and has set Nomads up perfectly for this Sunday’s long trip to Haverfordwest County. "We had a chat before the game and we knew we had 17 cup finals to play where we need probably 10 wins from those remaining games," a proud McGregor (pictured) told the Flintshire Chronicle. "And to start off with a victory against the league leaders, after 16 years without a win against them, it was a really positive start. "But it’s going to be another big step against Haverfordwest as well, with a long journey down there of five hours and we're also missing a few players as well. "Yet it’s another cup final and if we beat them then we'll only be a few points behind them with two games in hand, so it's a really good chance to narrow that gap." McGregor says his players now have the belief they need in themselves to compete with the best. "The lads’ confidence has never dropped, to be honest," added the former Wrexham stalwart. "Sometimes they get a bit frustrated with themselves but the team morale and confidence has never dipped. After beating the league leaders, if it gives them confidence to say ‘that’s it, we can do it’, then there’s no reason why we can’t go to any ground in the league and get a decent result. "It was a really decent performance. We knew it would be hard at times but we dug in, frustrated them and got our breakaway goal, which we had a game plan to do, and it was a pretty similar game to the one at their place earlier in the season (when TNS won 3-0) but this time it worked out in our favour. "They are very comfortable on the ball and knock it about, so we had a plan to sit in there, frustrate them and hit them on the break, and it worked perfectly." |