Andy Morrison has vowed his Connah’s Quay team are ready to raise their game once again in order to reach the Irn-Bru Cup final.
The Nomads can become the first Welsh team to reach the final, since the competition changed its format allowing clubs from outside Scotland to participate, if they can overcome Edinburgh City at the Deeside Stadium on Saturday night.
Connah’s Quay have already overcome Falkirk, Coleraine and Queen’s Park to reach the last four of the competition and are favourites to advance past the Scottish League 2 leaders.
“We are going to have to reach the standards that we have shown at home on so many occasions this season and we will show the utmost respect for Edinburgh City, as we do with all of our opponents, but I’m very fortunate to have a group of players and staff who are phased by nothing,” said manager Andy Morrison.
“The attitude from within our changing room from my first day at the club has been ‘bring it on!’. Win, lose or draw, we’re all in – nothing is left behind – no regrets.”
Late goals from George Horan and Michael Wilde at Hampden Park saw the Nomads dispatch Queen’s Park and clinch a spot in the semi-final draw.
Edinburgh City progressed after defeating Alloa Athletic in a penalty shootout, featuring for them in goal this season is Welshman Calum Antell, who counts Caernarfon Town amongst his list of former clubs.
The 26-year-old stopper is originally from Abergavenny and after being on the books at Cardiff City, embarked on a career in the Scottish lower divisions turning out for East Stirlingshire, East Fife, Queen of the South and Brechin City.
“I’ve not been back for a while,” he said in an interview to Edinburgh Live this week. “I don’t think I’ve played a game there since I was at Cardiff which is over ten years ago now. I’m looking forward to going back.
“I’ve got family a friends coming up as well which is good. I think there’s two or three bus loads going up so hopefully they can make a bit of noise for us and we can get the win.
“My family is from South Wales so it’s still about two hours away. It’s not too local, but it’s not too far either to be honest.
“I’ve only played for a team called Caernarfon Town and that was a while ago, so I’m not really too sure what the standard is like in Welsh league now.
“I’ve spoken to a few boys who have played there before and they say it’s a good standard so it should be a really good game.”
Antell has been an ever-present for Edinburgh City this season and has helped steer the team to a four-point lead at the top of Scottish League 2, but having scouted them extensively, Morrison says the Nomads will be well prepared to face the Scottish team.
“Having now watched Edinburgh twice and having seen countless sets of footage from games this season, we are well aware of how good of a team they are – they will win their league and from what I’ve seen and having played against Falkirk, they will go straight the next league and into the Scottish Championship.
“Again, we are going to have to reach the standards that we have shown at home on so many occasions this season and we will show the utmost respect for Edinburgh City, as we do with all of our opponents, but I’ve very fortunate to have a group of players and staff who are phased by nothing.”
