WAYNE Goodison has said 1874 Northwich’s display in last weekend’s FA Vase semi-final first leg was better than his players have been given credit for.

However he conceded too that they must improve to have a chance of overturning a single-goal deficit established for Thatcham Town by Ross Cook’s penalty.

“We feel differently now than we did on the bus ride home,” said the co-manager.

“When we chatted then, we were disappointed with our performance.

“I’ve since watched a video of the full game, and it does impact on your initial thoughts.

“We know we can be better with the ball, and that’s important going into the second leg.

“But we travelled a long way to take on a free-scoring side in unfamiliar surroundings – and horrendous conditions by the way – and returned home only 1-0 down. 

“What was clear is we got to grips with things as the game unfolded.”

He told the Guardian before last night’s training session that a final decision on the starting line-up for the second leg at Wincham Park on Saturday had yet to be made.

On the ‘to do’ list during the final get-together was a period practicing penalties.

Goodison added: “We’ve got one or two dilemmas, and I’m sure they’ll be the same.

“Do we need to do something different? How do we approach it knowing that we have to score?

“I expect it to be a better game; while we don’t play games over two legs often, it’s rare not to be a cagey affair while you feel each other out.

“There will be tension still of course because of what’s at stake, but I think the players will be freer as well knowing that there has to be an outcome.

“The chatter among our players in the days after the draw was that one side would have to score two goals to get through.

“And funnily enough that’s exactly the position we find ourselves in.

“We’ve been 1-0 down plenty of times – that much isn’t new, although I understand that there is more pressure associated to being behind when a place at Wembley is at stake.”

1874 brushed aside Barnoldswick in a North West Counties League fixture in midweek when wide man Ryan Jackson staked a claim to start against Thatcham by bagging a brace.

Goodison said he had been encouraged by what he had seen.

“It’s exactly what we needed,” he said.

“I thought we were really good in the first-half, and better still in the second when we got better in the final third.”

A final message to the players from Goodison, and joint-manager Paul Bowyer, before kick-off on Saturday afternoon will include an instruction not to be afraid.

An bumper crowd, expected to break a club-record attendance set during a fourth-round win against Pontefract in January, can help with that too.

Goodison added: “In many ways, I’m still a frustrated player and would love to be out on the field.

“Whatever happens, we have to enjoy being part of the semi-final of a national cup competition because we just don’t know when the next opportunity will present itself.

“We’ve made a real point all season of stressing to the lads that mistakes will happen, and we’re not the sort of guys that will rant and rave when they do.

“It’s how we react that matters.

“We’ve loved this run, and most of our satisfaction is borne out of the fact that nobody expected us to be where we are or to get as far as we have.

“For them, it’s really been amazing.”