Firstly, I’m upset for Rowlo who had an injury early in yesterday’s game, he has been immense this season scoring 20 goals from midfield and I’m sure he’ll do everything he can to be back with us as soon as possible.

With six games and two training sessions over the last 14 days as well as families and full time jobs, yesterday was by far our best performance of the season, if not ever. The last week our league has seen teams getting beat by 5’s, 6’s 7’s - and more! If we’d have lost I couldn’t, and wouldn’t, have used fatigue as an excuse. However, as we found a way to win I’m more than comfortable explaining yesterday our lads were on 25% of normal energy levels and less, their effort and sheer courage was something you can only ever witness and benefit from when you have a real group of men who refused to lose - 6 games, 6 clean sheets, against 4 top 6 sides and score 20 goals in the process - bloody beautiful - yesterday is worth more than all the shiny cups and promotions in the world to me.

To only have only suffered one injury the last 2 weeks is testament to the lads fitness and my staff - Up the Darlo running club ?

Credit to Whitchurch - they came bright eyed, fresh and intent on taking the points. They moved the ball very well, making a mockery really of being 12th in the league with 16 defeats. We hung in the game first half knowing if we could hit them on the nose first they’d lose belief that 16 defeats points to and we’d hopefully find the energy to get over the line and that’s ultimately what happened in the end, our desire and character overcame all in the end - fantastic contributions from our subs with Miller (Kieron Miller) and JD (Jack Downing) having a huge last 30 minutes, but in reality everyone emptied their tanks - top job and very humbling to watch.

Yesterday’s results means we secured a top 4 finish again and a place in the end of season play offs, a point on Tuesday now means we can secure home advantage in the play-off semi final which is vital if the lads have any aspirations of getting promoted now we’re in the playoffs. My job is now done, the play offs are now cup games and in the hands of my players.

We now prepare for a huge game on Tuesday away against Stone Old Alleynians at Leek Town. Hopefully we have a few come to support as I appreciate it’s a mission of a journey at the end of a very tiring and expensive 2 weeks of unreal support –
Thank you so much, up the Darlo