Brimscombe & Thrupp manager Sam Prior believes they still have a lot to play for this season as semi-final victory seals chance for their first silverware in four years.
The Stroud side faced Roman Glass St George on Wednesday, 30 March at The Meadow, where a close fought affair ended 1-0.
Prior was happy with the result against a team they’ve lost to twice this season.
“We rode our luck at times, sometimes you need to have a little bit of luck go your way to progress in cup competitions since we haven’t had that in some league games.”
“They’re a very good side. They caused us a lot of problems in three games. Yes, they missed a penalty and a good chance, but they never really penetrated us in open play.”
Star striker Harlie Price, who’s scored 28 goals in 40 games, saw himself the game winner with his 48th minute strike.
“Harlie’s been absolutely outstanding for us all season. He’s won us games on his own. Strikers like that are rare to find and when you have them you want to hold onto them.”
Nearing the end of the game, Roman Glass won a contentious penalty with the ball brushing Nathan Marks’ tucked in arm, which fortunately for the home side was shot over the bar.
“The boys reckon it was absolutely rubbish. The referee was closer than the linesman so I don’t know why he’s gone to the linesman. Some you get, some you don’t.”
Looking onto the final, the lilywhites face AEK-BOCO football club, a team competing in the Toolstation Western League.
The Bristol side played Thornbury in their semi-final, drawing 2-2 before winning 4-2 on penalties.
But Prior sees the team as an awkward obstacle between them and silverware.
“They’re a banana skin. We’ll be favourites to win the game purely from being in a league or two above.”
“They’ve managed to get through against Longlevens and against Thornbury. We’ll go there and we’ll go as strong as we can.”
Including their chance at the GFA Challenge Trophy, Prior believes the end of the season could finish them in good stead.
“We’ve had a couple of disrupted seasons, which no one’s enjoyed. Get ourselves a cup win. Get ourselves in and around the top six of this league. Then for where we are at this moment of time I think it’s been outstanding season.”
As Bishop’s Cleeve are set to lift the league trophy on Brimscombe and Thrupp’s next outing, Prior looks to the future at the club’s aspirations of being in that position.
“That’s the aim of the game, you want to be number one in everything you do. Number one is winning the league and going into the southern league, that’s everyone’s aspirations.”
Brimscombe and Thrupp face AEK-BOCO FC on Thursday, 28 April at Oaklands.