March Town continue epic FA Vase run with narrow home win over Takeley
Delighted March Town manager Ash Taylor felt his side adapted to the conditions better as they continued their historic FA Vase journey against Takeley at a windswept Robin Goodfellows Lane.
In strong winds and rain, a second-half goal from midfielder Sam Green was enough to put the United Counties League Premier South promotion hopefuls through to the Fourth Round with a 1-0 win.
Taylor said: "In the first half we went against the wind and we wondered if that was the right thing to do but we created more chances than they did.
"Because we dealt with the wind so well in the first half and had the opportunities to score two or three goals, that gave us more confidence with the wind behind us in the second half.
"You have to be clever and try to use the conditions to your advantage and we tried to do that the best we could.
"I don't think they used the conditions well enough for themselves. They're a good side and if you play them in different conditions then I think it is a totally different game.
"In the first half they kept trying to chip it over the top and it kept going out for a throw-in. I knew what we had to do in the second half to create and the lads have gone and done it.
"We spoke about keeping the ball in and winning second phases around the box and that's where the goal has come from after a little bit of quality down the side."
The Hares, who are now four wins from a Wembley cup final, are now in uncharted territory and Taylor was still coming to terms with the achievement of his side after the final whistle.
"To be honest I feel quite drained right now," he said.
"The emotions and the amount of energy that game sucks out of you.
"It's tough and you want to try to deliver for all the people here and it means so much to the football club and so much to the players.
"I've just had a chat with Gillies (Craig) in the changing room and he's feeling the same. What a day, it's a day to be proud of and a day of making history.
"We spoke before the game about being a somebody and not a nobody and those lads in there are part of that history. They have got us the furthest the club has ever been."
In an even first half March played against the strong wind but still created the best chances. They scored the only goal of the match early in the second half when Sam Green slotted home at the back post.
Assistant boss Simon Roberts added: "The weather conditions made it a real leveller. It wasn't a pretty game for the spectator and fair play to all who turned to watch it.
"I think we tried to play football and I think we were definitely the better side in the first half and deserved to win.
"They are a good side if you look at their form over the last few weeks, but I thought we made them look average."
March Town: Gill, Burrows, Brumby, Withers, Emmington, Green, Cotton, Foy, Gillies, Tait, Williams. Subs: Biggs, Cowie, McWilliams-Marcano, Pitts-Lewis, Sharman.
