FA Cup
Craig Rouse says Pontefract Collieries’ 6-0 demolition of Handsworth in the FA Cup third qualifying round was a fairytale result.
The Colls are on the brink of reaching the first round proper after pulverising Russ Eagle’s Toolstation NCEL Premier Division giant-killers at Beechnut Lane in front of over 400 people.
“If you had written a script that’s the way you would have written it,” Rouse told Non League Yorkshire.
“In terms of the game you come and you want to be solid and just try to win the game and progress to the next round.
“You could the attitude of the boys from the first minute and there was no way we were going to lose.
“We put everything we have talked about into practice.
“We made the pitch big, we were switching play, the front three were causing havoc all day long and we got our just rewards.
“We wanted to start bright and we put them under pressure early on.
“We missed the penalty but it was then about making sure the composure was still there rather letting frustration get the better of us.
“We went in at half-time at 3-0 and we talked about the next goal and not giving (Handsworth) anything that could allow them to grow in confidence.
“Spence powered that header home and from there on it was really comfortable.
“I just want to put on record how well Handsworth have done to get to this round.
“A Step 5 club in this round is unheard of so I know it will feel bad for them tonight but when they wake up in the morning they can be proud of what they have done.”
The fourth qualifying round draw is live on TalkSport at 3.15pm on Monday afternoon.
The National League sides join the party and the Colls could end up playing big clubs such as Wrexham or Notts County.
“We’ve one game away (from the first round) and anything can happen,” Rouse said.
“There’s a lot of big clubs coming into the draw now but there could be a great draw.
“We hope we get our rewards with a big draw.
“It is so hard to pick who I’d want as there’s so many clubs.
“But you either want a big draw or one you can get your teeth into because you have a good chance of getting to the first round proper.
“We can only dream.
“The draw is on Monday and I hope the boys get what they deserve because they have been class.
“It is unknown territory for us as a club so hopefully we can capture the imagination of the town.
“We want to get the neutrals coming down and the one-off visitors and hopefully this FA Cup can inspire that.
“Hopefully we can keep growing the crowds and in turn grow the club.
“We want to keep moving forward on-and-off-the-pitch.”