Post by admin on May 5, 2016 5:16:50 GMT
Danny Cowley hopes his previous play-off success can help Braintree Town as they prepare to face Grimsby Town
By Andrew Warren
Braintree Town Football v Altrincham in Vanarama National league 3-0
Danny Cowley is hoping his string of previous play-off successes will help him handle what could be a ‘life-changing’ week for Braintree Town.
Braintree Town Football v Altrincham in Vanarama National league 3-0 Manager Danny Cowley
The Essex part-timers take on Grimsby Town over two legs for a place in the National League play-off final at Wembley, after finishing third in the table during a superb first season at the club, following his summer arrival from Concord Rangers.
While with The Beach Boys, along with brother and assistant Nicky, Cowley helped his side win both the Ryman North and Premier play-offs, and believes that previous experience will be beneficial with tomorrow night’s first leg looming large.
“We’ve been involved in a lot of play-offs before and been successful in them too,” he said.
“They are unique games and we’ll have a plan for them. They are pressure games.
“The more you expose yourselves to these moments the more you know. We’ve lived this week before, we’ve lived the weeks where you have a pivotal, life-changing, games at the end of them.
“We know how to handle them and we’re pretty good. Nobody can put more pressure on us than we do ourselves.
“We can’t fear something we’ve created ourselves.”
Fifteen-goal top scorer Michael Cheek is sure to be a central figure as Braintree bid to negotiate the play-offs, with Cowley full of praise for what the former Chelmsford forward has achieved in his first National League season.
“It’s an unbelievable achievement for Michael he’s a great player and as honest as they come, he’s worked really hard,” he said.
“He’s had to work really hard on his physical fitness and his tactical understanding of the game, so now he’s a brilliant defender from the front and his hold up play is good.
“He’s never far away from a goal so I’m really pleased for him, but this success isn’t about one person, it’s about a group because we’re all cogs in the wheel.”