Upottery all set for Seaton Challenge Cup final

Upottery wrap up another football season on Friday night when they contest the Seaton Challenge Cup final against hosts Seaton Town.

Kick-off is at 6.30pm and the villagers have got something of a mission in mind as boss Dan Prettejohn alluded saying: “When we went there [Seaton Town] for our Macron League Premier Division game we did not do ourselves justice and they beat us 2-0, scoring the two strikes they got away on our goal!

“We were left feeling disappointed after that and when the lads heard who’d be play following our semi-final win, the talk was not of silverware, but more of looking to set the record straight and this time, on our visit to Colyford Road, to put on the sort of performance that we know we are capable of.”

Upottery, who were involved in a Morrison Bell Cup semi-final on Monday night, went into that game against Sidmouth Town missing four regular starters, but that should not be the case on Friday night.

Prettejohn says: “It’s great to be able to say that we can go to Seaton for this cup final with an almost absolutely full strength side. The one player missing is Max McKewan, who is currently sidelined with ankle ligament trouble, but other than the unfortunate Max, we have everyone champing at the bit and raring to go.”

The Upottery boss continued: “It would be nice if we could end the season with some silverware. Our first ever effort at Macron Devon and Exeter League Premier Division football went OK. We flirted with the drop zone, but never fell into it and I am confident that we have now made enough of a statement to ensure that we can go on and become and established top flight side.

Upottery reached Friday’s final with a 3-1 success against Combe St Nicholas I a game that saw a goal-scoring return from Joe Jones who scored twice having recovered from a long-term injury. Steve Morris scored the other goal.

In terms of the recently finished league campaign, Prettejohn said: “I was satisfied with what happened throughout the season though I did end up feeling that we did not quite do ourselves justice.

“Availability was always an issue and I firmly believe that had I been able to field the sort of side I put out for the last five or six games from day one of the season then we would have been nowhere near the foot of the table.”

With regard to next season, Prettejohn says: “Of course I hope we can keep all the lads together and perhaps bring in a couple more to partly freshen things up, but also to add to the healthy competition for places that we have.

“Off the pitch the cub is ready to mix with the best at our level and on the pitch, if we can a regular side out, I am convinced we can be a match for anyone at this level.”