Terry Praises His Troops

Last updated : 27 April 2005 By Stray Shots Team
Shots supporters have enjoyed some memorable moments at the Rec over recent years say the Aldershot News — but surely none as poignant than this.

The paper reported that, the sight of the East Bank pouring out onto the pitch to congratulate their heroes for securing a second successive Play-Off place, left a lump in the throat and brought a fitting finale to another fantastic season.

For once, proud boss Terry Brown was left almost speechless as his men cleared the last hurdle to book themselves a two-legged semi-final with Carlisle United — thus keeping the dream of the Football League alive.

After taking time to gather his thoughts amidst the emotion, Brown heaped praise on his now leg-weary troops and saluted the Shots for a job well done.

He told the paper, “The boys need to celebrate this properly because making the Play-Offs is an achievement in itself,” he commented.

“When you think that a team with the quality and calibre of Morecambe have not made it and the team that held Manchester United to a draw at Old Trafford have not made it, you can only be proud of the boys and what they've achieved.

“We've dug in after 42 games, got 73 points and today I always felt we were comfortable. I was a relieved and delighted man to see that second goal go in though, I can tell you.”

It's been a long, hard slog for boss Brown and his men in recent weeks, but once again they have proved they can handle pressure and deliver when most needed.

Five wins and a draw from their last six games turned the Play-Off picture on its head and now gives the Shots a psychological advantage going into the Bank Holiday bonanza as the in-form team.

One of the main reasons for that is striker Tim Sills (pictured), who led from the front once again on Saturday to fire his team to glory.

Sills killed off the brave challenge of Scarborough with predatory strikes towards the end of each half, which helped ease early nerves and keep that impressive recent record intact.

Brown went into the match looking for his first ever victory over the Seadogs as a manager and with Stevenage, Woking and Exeter all breathing down the Shots necks, he knew that would have to be achieved if the Shots were to emulate last season's Play-Off feat.

They went for the jugular early but a combination of poor finishing and excellent goalkeeping from Scarborough's Leigh Walker kept them at bay.

At the same time, the tense, yet vociferous 4,437 crowd were becoming increasingly nervous with news of Stevenage's early goal against Leigh RMI, which temporarily removed the Shots from the Play-Off places.

Despite now having to lock horns with the team who inflicted their biggest ever home defeat — a 5-0 drubbing back in September — Brown is happy to be drawn against Carlisle in the Play-Off mix.

He said: “We're quite happy with that. I can remember thinking last year how I hoped we didn't get Hereford, but there's no easy ones at this stage.

“Both ties will be nerve-wracking affairs but they'll be a hell of a lot more pressure on them.

This is a happy hunting ground for them so I've just got to make sure it's nice and tight when we go back up there.”

“This is the minimum targets we set the boys at the beginning of the year, now it's up to us to earn our corn. My whole squad dream of the Football League and we must make sure we prepare ourselves properly for that possibility.

“We nearly got there last year, only penalties away, and I think it will go to the wire again this year.”

With thanks to the Aldershot News.