Machen boss Chris Matthews to continue same approach against Bridgend Street
AFC Machen boss Chris Matthews says he won’t take a different approach to Saturday’s JD Welsh Cup clash with Bridgend Street.
The Gwent based side are one of the lowest teams left in the Cup and will be playing a side two divisions above them, with the former Tredegar Arms says that his side aren’t there for the taking and that they will put on a competitive display.
“We take the same approach to every game we try and set up well as a defensive unit off the ball and play quick on the break or try and defend from the front.
I don’t know much about Bridgend Street obviously there a quality side I’ve seen a few of there results since we drew them and it will be another tough game but we aren’t going there to make up the numbers I can tell you that.”
Machen though already have experience in beating higher league opposition after they saw off Bridgend Street’s Cardiff counterparts Ely Rangers, romping home to a 4-0 victory over the Wenvoe side.
The youthful manager who began management just over a decade ago has put a lot of faith into his side and the management staff he’s aligned himself with.
“Beating Ely might of been a shock to people outside the club but it wasn’t to people involved with the club myself and my management team of Jon James and Lee Ferris know what the players are capable of we have a very good squad at Machen at the moment with a lot of competition for places so it wasn’t a big shock to me.”
One player that will miss out on this great event is Luke Harwood who misses out due to an unfortunate injury at the weekend against Sudbrook
“Only one at the moment Luke Horwood broke his ankle last weekend at Sudbrook he’s a massive miss for us and has been a big part in the success over the last few years and we hope he’s back playing as soon as possible.
The last few games I’ve had a lot of boys working or away and the squad has handled it well and a few players have taken advantage of the chance to start or get in the first team squad from the second team.”
For a side that have gone through the divisions after going through a rise through the leagues, Matthews isn’t viewing the Cup as a distraction. If anything, they’re experienced in balancing the two after winning the League and Cup double during their days in the Premier X Division, two seasons ago.
“With the win the weekend we are up to 6th we do have a few games in hand over the sides above us too, the cup is a nice distraction from the league we have been promoted two seasons in a row and are still competing this season.
It’s also nice for the club and the players that have got the club in this position to be involved in these big games against these top sides, but we just try and take it one game at a time and try to win the game in front of us.”
(Featured Image: Kane Austin)
