Blue Square Premier club badges

Cambridge United v Torquay United

Cambridge United will look to make amends for the play-off heartache they suffered last season when they face Torquay United for a place in the Football League next season.

The U's lost last year in the play-offs 1-0 to Exeter - meaning they have now been out of the Football League for four years. Boss Gary Brabin insists the way his side have prepared for the trip to Wembley has nothing to do with what happened last season.

He told the club's official website: "My actions this year have got nothing to do with last year.

"People seem to have made a lot of how things were done last year, which I had no part of and whatever another manager chooses to do is nothing to do with me, right or wrong.

"People who have worked with me know that I try and keep things the same in preparation, no matter who or where we are playing, and that is what I'm trying to do for this game.

"I want the players to give me the same attitude and commitment, and if they apply themselves the way I know they can then I'm confident that we will get the right result."

But the U's manager knows that tackling the Gulls will be no walk in the park.

"When I was appointed at the beginning of the season Torquay were the favourites to win the league, and although they had a slow start, they had a good season.

"We watched Torquay a few times this season and we know about them. They're up there on merit, they're at Wembley on merit and we're expecting a tough game on Sunday.

"I think both teams are desperate to get back to the Football League, we're two good sides and it all points towards being a really good game," he added.

Brabin has no fresh injury or suspension concerns for the final, but will still be missing Mark Beesley, who is out until next season after a hip operation.

On-loan midfielder Jai Reason has been released by parent club Ipswich but will still be eligible for Cambridge.

Meanwhile, Torquay mentor Paul Buckle has billed Sunday's game as the most important match of his career.

He told BBC Spotlight: "It's definitely the biggest game of my career.

"Promotion is everything when you are a player, coach or manager; it's what you aim for at the start of the season.

"We must go there to win," he added. "We have to block out the atmosphere really, block out the fact that we're playing at the national stadium."

"It's what I work hard for every day and the last 20 months at this club have been out of this world."

Torquay will be without Blair Sturrock, who is sidelined with a knee injury.

Goalkeeper Scott Bevan is set to undergo a late fitness test and Michael Poke is likely to start the game.

Posted: Saturday , May 16, 2009

Your Comments

pilgrim

"Have the Cambridge boys made it ? Did they win ?"

All comments on this story


Character Count : 0/1900


Your Say

altyr6 - It will be a hard game and we not will run away with it. Our record in the BSP since january... MORE >>

By RushdenDiamonds on Thu, 18th March 10

Blue Square Premier Standings
BlueSq Premier Standings
1 Stevenage Borough 72
2 Oxford United 68
3 Luton Town 67
4 Rushden & Diamonds 62
5 York City 61
6 Kettering Town 59
7 AFC Wimbledon 57
8 Crawley Town 55
9 Mansfield Town 53
10 Altrincham 48
Full standings
Blue Square North Blue Square South

Poll

Who do you think will finish top in the Blue Square Premier standings this year?

View Results