Both bosses buoyant before semi

After beating Hayes and Yeading United 4-0 on Saturday to complete a four match winning run to finish third place in the table and earn home advantage, hometown boy Williams told fans promotion would mean everything to him ahead of the big match with Leamington and Slough Town meeting in the other EVO-STIK League Southern Premier Division play-off semi-final.

Williams, who took over the reins at short notice this season in his first managerial job, said: “Being my home town, winning promotion gave me the same feeling as any of the ones with West Ham or Yeovil as a player but to do it as a manager would mean just that little bit more I think.”

Only three points separated the two sides when the regular league season ended after the clubs recorded two draws against each other. Burke, who was hoping an army of Canaries fans would make the trip to cheer them into the final, believes the away form that saw them lose only five times this season on their travels could be key in what will be a finely balanced encounter.

“Being away won’t phase us at all," he declared. "We have won at Leamington and Slough and drew at Merthyr in the league games, it shows the form we have had. There will also be less pressure on the away teams in the semi finals. I hope as many fans as possible follow us on Wednesday.”

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