FC Halifax Town: Youngsters ready for cup final

Town beat Hastings United 3-1 in their semi-final with goals from James Sunderland, Ousman Cham and Eliel Anku, and face Chester at Walsall’s Banks’ Stadium in the final.

They beat Boreham Wood in their semi-final, and won the Division K title in the National League under 19 Alliance by 10 points.

“We’ve planned and prepared well,” said Trueman. “We’ve still got a couple more days of important training sessions, but we’re looking forward to the game.

“Chester are a strong team, quite direct and they’ve had a lot of success from set-plays, but we’ll be prepared for that.

“Hopefully we have enough to beat them.

“We’re playing at a nice ground on a nice pitch, which I think will work in our favour because we like to get the ball down and play.

“We know that Chester are strong and they’ve got a lot of players that played for their first-team at the back end of the season, so they’ve got good experience.

“But we’ve done our homework and we’re ready for it.”

Trueman believes the league campaign, in which Town were pipped to the title they won last season by Guiseley, is out of the players’ minds.

“We’re focused on the final,” he added. “The cup has been our priority over the league, so hopefully we can get a result.

“The lads are ready for the challenge.

“It would mean a lot to the players if we won, and they deserve it for all the hard work they’ve put in over the last two years with us.

“It would mean a lot to the club too. Obviously we won the league last year and had a great run in the FA Youth Cup, but if we can win the final it would show the quality we have in our programme, and show there are some good players coming through.

“It’s credit to the club and how much hard work the staff have put in to developing the programme.”

Town boss Jamie Fullarton will be at the game, and said: “It’s these sorts of occasions that mimic and mirror the level of pressure that comes at first-team level, playing in a national cup final at a Football League ground.

“It exposes the players and gives them an experience of those pressures.

“I’m looking forward to watching them and seeing them in that environment, and no doubt they will perform and do well.

“Huge credit has to go to the staff and players for the work they’ve put in.”