Gary Hackett: The biggest game in Stourbridge history
Stourbridge boss Gary Hackett insists tomorrow's Evo-Stik Premier play-off final at Spennymoor Town is 'the biggest match in the club's history'.
Having beat Workington 3-2 in a semi-final on Monday, the Glassboys head to the Brewery Field looking to return to the second tier of non-league after more than 30 years away.
Stour enjoyed a fantastic run in the FA Cup this season too, bowing out in the third round with a 2-1 defeat at Wycombe Wanderers after beating League One side Northampton Town at the previous stage.
Hackett is looking to give a great season a truly historic end and said: "It has been a long, long season and we have to see if we can finish things off tomorrow.
"I'm glad we have had four or five days off ahead of the game because I think we needed it.
"This has got to be the biggest match in the club's history. It's different from the FA Cup third round because we're not going to win the FA Cup.
"Now, we're 90 minutes away from Conference North football and, for this football club, that's amazing.
"There's more pressure because when you are in the third round of the cup, no-one expects you to win. Now we are so close (to promotion) and we want to get over the line so that brings with it added pressure."
Stuart Pierpoint and Luke Benbow struck for Stourbridge in normal time at the War Memorial Ground against Workington, only for the visitors to draw level twice – the second coming in the final few seconds to take the game to extra time.
Tiring, both physically and mentally, Jordan Archer dug deep to come up with a powerful strike which found the corner, sending the Glassboys faithful into delirium and proving to be enough to send them through.
Opponents Spennymoor got to the final by beating Nantwich Town 2-0 on Tuesday.
"It was a rollercoaster of a game and I thought the attitude of the players from both sides was tremendous," Hackett added.
"Jordan Archer came up with some magic though and produced a great finish.
"Tremendous credit to Workington as they've played a lot of games in a short space of time. I'm just very grateful that we're in that final and we'll give it our best shot."
