Craig Elliott is not fussed over who Shaw Lane Aquaforce get in the quarter-finals of the FA Vase
Craig Elliott is not fussed over who Shaw Lane Aquaforce are drawn against in the FA Vase quarter-finals.
Aquaforce and Tadcaster Albion will learn their fate at lunchtime – 48 hours after Lane’s narrow 3-2 fifth round win over Flackwell Heath and Albion’s victory at AFC Mansfield.
The Ducks have enjoyed an incredible run as they have knocked out some of the giants along the way including Runcorn Linnets, West Auckland Town and Shildon.
Elliott said: “I’m not bothered because I honestly think we have had the toughest run of a lot of teams.
“Everyone has their own stories, but I defy anyone who says we don’t deserve to be in the quarter-finals.
“We have beaten some unbelievable teams. Flackwell hadn’t lost away from home all season.
“There’s a story in every round. It will be another hard game in the quarter-finals because there are only eight teams left.
“It is great (that there are two NCEL teams still in the competition) and it just says that us and Taddy are good teams which we know already.
“There are some good teams in the Northern Counties East League and it is probably the toughest and best it has been for a long while.
“Lets hope us and Taddy can avoid each other and meet in the final.”
Elliott also gave more insight into how Shaw Lane were able to overcome Flackwell.
Tactically Aquaforce have been superb all season with their forwards ripping teams to shreds with their movement.
Because of the poor surface at Shaw Lane, Elliott had to devise a new plan.
He said: “We concentrated on what we were going to do and I’m not going to lie that the old pitch issue was again stopping us from doing what we wanted to do.
“I do believe on a good pitch that we are a very good team and we had to change our tactics.
“We talked at half-time about changing the way we have played all season long to adapt to the second half.
“We went a bit direct – back to front quickly and we had a good spell for 15-20 minutes doing that, playing the pitch rather what we have done all season.
“That’s why I’m pleased with the lads because we adapted.”