Youth Team manager Tim Ryan is looking forward to leading his side out at the National League Alliance Academy Cup final this afternoon against Woking at St Georges Park.
The U19’s take on the Southern-based side this afternoon at 1pm, a game in which Ryan is hopeful his side can win, after they’ve put together a good run of form in all competitions heading into this fixture.
His side are currently on a thirteen-match unbeaten run in all competitions and Ryan is hopeful that his side can extend that run even further this afternoon, by clinching the Academy Cup league title for the Young Minstermen.
“It’s a massive game for the club, it’s a National final for the club, but it’s also a really important game for the club’s Academy and the individuals within it.
“It’s one which we’re really looking forward to going into, we head into it in really good form and we’re confident we can get something out of the game.
“The game is something which has been bubbling amongst the team for the last month now, ever since we got that win at Notts County in the semi-final. We’ve done well in this competition, as well as the FA Youth Cup this season.
“It’s really good that we’re on this current good run of form, the players are playing with a lot of freedom. I have a big desire to help improve the boys and I like to put a bit of intensity into our play, and it’s clear to see that it’s starting to show in our recent run of games.
“Once you get into a winning mentality, winning games becomes a habit.
“Everything that I’m asking the boys to do, they are doing, I feel they’re doing really well and they’re all developing.
“I say that as a squad too, because they train together day-in-day-out and I think this is one of the strongest set-ups that we have had in recent years.”
Reflecting on his side’s last game against Chesterfield last Friday, Ryan admitted he was pleased with his side’s second-half performance after they came from behind to secure a crucial 4-2 win in the league.
“I thought the boys had a really tough game against Chesterfield last week, they came out of the traps and they were on the front foot more than we were in the opening half.
“The decision and intensity in the opening forty minutes wasn’t good enough, the boys know that themselves, but I thought that they did really well to come out in the second-half and get us that crucial win.
“We’ve been on a really good run of form recently and we have a lot of players who have been trying to grasp an opportunity ahead of the cup final and I thought that the lads did really well in the second half against Chesterfield all-in-all.”