Kevin Sweeney and Craig Harris. Pic: Dave Birt
Kevin Sweeney and Craig Harris. Pic: Dave Birt

Goalkeeper Ryan Price has hailed Chasetown FC’s management team as the club prepare for their play-off final at Stamford.

The Scholars now they are just one game away from promotion this evening (May 10) after a rip-roaring second half to the season which has seen them become the form team in the division.

And Price believes manager Craig Harris and his assistant Kevin Sweeney are reaping the rewards for their hard work after Chasetown saw off second placed Coalville in the play-off semi-final.

“Those two deserve so much credit for the way they’ve studied what needs to be done to get results,” Price said.

“There is a settled spine to the team and the management have built around that.

“Then you only have to look at the way they have managed the kids in the side. Theo Robinson was fresh and destroyed Coalville in the play-off semi-final.”

Although many of Chasetown’s young guns have stolen the headlines this season, Price believes the old heads can play their part as the players bid to produce one last effort.

“I’ve got a feeling our experience will be needed again,” he explained. “Richard Teesdale, Chris Slater and Nick Wellecomme will all have a big part to play.

Ryan Price saves at full stretch. Pic: Dave Birt
Ryan Price saves at full stretch. Pic: Dave Birt

“It’ll still take a big effort to win the game and I think we’ll be the underdogs again – they finished above us.

“It’s a long way to go, but hoperfully we’ll get a good following because the same faces have been with us through thick and thin and they deserve special praise.

“But hopefully we’ll be hard to beat as we’ve got the best back four in the league by a country mile in my opinion and we’ve got that work rate to punish teams.”

Chasetown’s fans will be hoping their players don’t freeze in what is essentially a one-off knockout clash.

But their goalkeeper believes the season has been perfect preparation for such a tie.

Price said: “It’s gone so quick since Christmas, but that’s because we’ve had 20 or so cup finals as we could barely afford to lose any games if we wanted to hunt down the pack.”

Despite finishing below their play-off rivals, the formbook puts The Scholars firmly on the front foot.

Harris’ men have also beaten Stamford twice already this season,  with Richard Teesdale heading a winner when the two sides met in March, following a Theo Robinson double that helped derail the Daniels’ title ambitions back in December.

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.