Chairman hails his cup heroes

Wright heaped praise on the Gladiators after their 3-1 win in the third qualifying round replay at Borough Park booked them a trip to Altrincham in the fourth and final qualifying round.

The EVO-STIK NPL Premier Division club last reached the first round proper in 1989 when they lost at Scunthorpe United and Wright also urged the club's fans to make sure they turn out in numbers for the trip to the National League North club's Moss Lane home home on Saturday 15 October.

Wright said: "What a great battling performance from everyone involved. They all deserve all the credit that's going, to sit four and a half hours on a coach after a day at work and produce a performance and result like that speaks volumes for their commitment to this football club and we're all very proud of them."

Club officials are organising coach transport to help fans make the trip and he added: "I'd urge our fans to get to Altrincham in their numbers and get behind the team. It would be fantastic if we could make the first round proper and pull out a really plum tie but we have to deal with Altrincham first, so come on, the players need and deserve your support which was fantastic last weekend at the Workington home game."

After drawing 1-1 with their EVO-STIK NPL top flight rivals at the DCJ Group Insurance Arena last Saturday in the first attempt to settle the tie, joint managers Craig Hopkins and Glenn Kirkwood were also delighted with the midweek result and the performances of their players.

Hopkins, whose side retrace their steps to Borough Park in the league on Saturday for a third successive game, said: "It was a brilliant win. We were okay in the first half but played really well in the second half. We scored our goals at good times but also defended extremely well, the back five including Barnesy were outstanding. We passed it better in the second half and got what we deserved against a very good side."

He added: "All of the players and ourselves would like to thank the fans who made that long journey on a Tuesday night to support us, brilliant, it's really really appreciated."

Matlock Town are one of six EVO-STIK NPL clubs bidding to reach the first round proper with Stamford hosting Wrexham and Lincoln United and Nantwich Town hosting Spennymoor Town and Stourbridge respectively in all league ties on Saturday week (October 15).

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