North Ferriby United celebrate their captain Liam King’s dramatic winning penalty in the FA Trophy quarter-final win over Ebbsfleet. Picture: John Rudkin
North Ferriby United captain Liam King is ready to lead his side in the biggest game in the club’s history.
After a 2-2 draw in the first leg of the FA Trophy Semi-final, Ferriby host Bath City in the second leg tomorrow.
Wembley is in sight, for the second time in Ferriby’s history, and King and his teammates are raring to go.
The first-leg could have put the Villagers in pole position to walk out the famous Wembley arch as they did lead 2-0 before Bath responded with two goals of their own.
“We’d have taken that result going into the game anyway,” said King, who scored the winning penalty in the victory over Ebbsfleet in the quarter-finals.
“The penalty changed the game and when you concede a penalty they’ve got the momentum and they just kept coming at us and we couldn’t get out.
“To be fair it’s really kept the tie alive.
“The lads were a little down after the game, but we’ve had a few days now and we should go into this tie as favourites.
“On our own patch, we’re all set to go. We just need to perform again.”
King believes to key to his side’s success is the ambition of the club, with manager Billy Heath making it clear to every player where he wants to take the club.
King said: “Ever since I joined, Billy said we’re going to be moving forward, and he’s brought in the right players.
“Wembley would top off our success, and hopefully we can get to the Conference next year.
“He takes every game the same, he always wants to win.
“In the East Riding Senior Cup and the FA Cup he’s exactly the same. Everything he does is about winning.”
The Villagers sit one game away from reaching their first Wembley visit for 18 years.
Ferriby reached the FA Vase final in 1997, but King has never played there and he said: “To walk onto the pitch would be a dream.
“I went to the FA Trophy final when Grimsby played Wrexham, and I never in a million years thought it would be me.
“I think it’s every footballer’s dream especially at our level to have a game at Wembley.
“It just sounds too good to be true, I can’t wait to get Saturday out the way and get stuck in.
“It’s the biggest game in my life.
“Since I’ve been captain you have other responsibilities, but now it’s just become the norm.
“I’ve adapted now, but everyone has the same responsibility to make sure we get to the final.”