Foyle: Don’t write us off (From York Press)

Foyle: Don’t write us off

11:43am Wednesday 6th May 2009 in Sport By Dave Flett , Sports reporter

YORK City manager Martin Foyle has hit out at critics writing off his team’s chances of Wembley success.

The Minstermen are 4-1 outsiders to beat Stevenage in Saturday’s FA Trophy final but Foyle feels those odds are over generous.

He also believes the Hertfordshire side’s confidence could be misplaced after they came unstuck in their Blue Square Premier play-off quest at Cambridge.

Stevenage went into Monday’s semi-final, second leg at the Abbey Stadium boasting a 3-1 advantage.

But Cambridge scored twice to force extra time and then grabbed a dramatic 119th-minute winning goal when Scott Rendell netted his second of the match.

The result leaves Stevenage preparing for just one Wembley final rather than the two they had pinned their hopes on and a determined Foyle said: “In the build-up, we kept hearing how they were just going to play York in the Trophy final as a Wembley warm-up before looking forward to a big game in the play-offs.

“That won’t be the case now and I feel that we are being taken very lightly. We are 4-1 with the bookies and they are 6-4 on.

“People seem to be saying that we have done fantastic to get there and that’s it, but we are going there to win.”

Foyle also believes that the loss of left-back Scott Laird is a blow for Boro.

The former Plymouth defender’s red card against Cambridge means he will be suspended for Wembley, along with fellow left-footer Mitchell Cole.

Stalwart defender Jon Ashton is another absentee having played for Grays in earlier rounds of the competition, although midfielder Darren Murphy’s ban is expected to be lifted after a hearing into his controversial play-off semi-final, first leg sending off.

Foyle said: “They will have no left footers in the side now and, while that doesn’t always make a difference, I like Scott Laird. He’s a good defender. As for Murphy, I would be embarrassed if his red card wasn’t rescinded, although you never know with appeals.”

City striker Craig Farrell, meanwhile, will be ineligible for Saturday’s game having not been re-registered before the semi-final ties against Telford.

The club’s appeal has been rejected but Farrell, who has not been retained by Oxford after his loan spell at the Kassam Stadium, has been told he still has a future at KitKat Crescent, where he is contracted until the summer of 2010.

Foyle added: “Faz was the only player I had a bit of interest for when I was trying to balance the books. He’s part of my plans until anything happens otherwise.”