MICHAEL HERBERT says his Woodley United side have revenge on the mind as they prepare to face Wokingham and Emmbrook on Saturday.
The Kestrels go into this weekend’s Reading Senior Cup clash on the back of a brilliant week of results which saw them progress in two cup competitions and earn a valuable point in the Hellenic One East title race.
The run began on Wednesday night with a 2-1 win over Royal Wootton Bassett Town in the Floodlit Cup before seeing off Risborough Rangers on penalties on Saturday to book their place in the Berks and Bucks Intermediate Cup final.
And a stoppage time Jake Nicholls equaliser earned Woodley a point against second placed Headington Amateurs in Monday night’s league clash.
The league takes a back seat again now with United taking on Wokingham next, one of the few sides to have beaten them this season.
“It’s another big cup game and another local derby,” Herbert told The Wokingham Paper.
“It’s got a bit more on it because they beat us 4-3 in the game before and we were disappointed because we felt we were the better side that day. We defended poorly.
“We’ve got a bit of a point to prove against this lot. We’re really looking forward to it and we can’t wait to get there on Saturday and show them that last time was a blip.”
He continued: “We’ve got Bracknell Town in our side of the draw so that’s the dream tie really for us.
“They’re at the top of the Premier and to play them and see where we are, that’s what we want to do. That’s what we’re all about.
“We just want to go as far as we can in this competition, but that’s the dream.”
For many sides, being handed a tricky schedule of three difficult games in the space of three days would cause some frustration.
But Herbert insists he never looked at it like that.
“We look at it as a challenge and that’s what we’re here to do,” he said.
“We want to challenge ourselves as much as we can and we want to play against the best teams possible and see where we’re at.
“I think we’ve got a very good team. We’re obviously brand new and we just want to see where we’re at.
“The challenge was good for us and the boys did brilliantly.
“To be unbeaten was the aim and to do that was fantastic – especially playing opposition in the league above in one of the games and then a tough semi-final.
“We are really happy with the outcome.”
He added: “I probably haven’t had a better week in management.
“When you break it down like that, I hadn’t really thought about it like that.”
After playing the Sumas on Saturday, Woodley go back to the Floodlit Cup with another game against Premier opposition in Lydney Town on Tuesday night.
And while Herbert admits they are currently a bit of an unknown quantity, he has full belief his side can be competitive.
“I don’t know too much about them,” admitted the manager.
“We’ll try and find out a little bit about them before that game. It’s good for us.
“The games keep coming thick and fast and that’s what we want.
“We’ve got a really good squad and it enable us to use that squad and we’re really excited.
“We’ve gone to Wootton Bassett and got a good result so we’re more than confident we’ll be able to match Lydney.”
