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Corinthian manager Michael Golding saw his team edge a seven-goal FA Vase thriller – and then declared they were rubbish.
Emmanuel Oloyede’s stoppage-time winner saw Corinthian beat Leighton Town 4-3 on Saturday to set up a two-legged semi-final with Hebburn Town.
But Golding was left with mixed emotions at the final whistle.
“I thought we were dreadful – we didn’t turn up,” he claimed. “We scored early and I thought that would settle the boys but then terrible defending and they were level straight away.
“We’re normally so good second half going down the hill but we didn’t do anything we’re good at.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling. I’m disappointed we didn’t play how we can but I’m delighted with the result.
“It doesn’t matter how we played though. You always want to play well, always want to play to your maximum and it was a worry that we had too many boys give a five out of 10 in the first half.
“But if you’d said we’d play rubbish before the game and gone through then of course I would have taken that.
“We knew both teams would have a chance late on and when we took our one it was pure jubilation, for the players, management and small band of supporters – it’s fantastic.”
There was nothing cagey about the opening exchanges at Gay Dawn Farm with three goals in a four-minute spell in the first 12 minutes of the game.
Corinthian pride themselves on a mean defence but Golding feared that it was going to boil down to a shoot-out in front of goal.
“I didn’t expect it to be quite that open,” he said. “When I went to watch them before, they reminded me of us in the way they set up. They set up with the wingers, they’re good on the front foot and they put the ball in behind.
“The worry was that there were going to be goals, I’d have preferred a boring 1-0 but in the back of my mind I did think it would be open.”
Corinthian appeared to be heading out when they went 3-2 behind with 25 minutes left but Golding introduced substitutes Josh Stirman and George Snelling – and it seemed to re-invigorate his side.
“I always back the boys but 3-2 down in a quarter-final against a good side, you’re not sure you are going to score two goals,” said Golding.
“It looked like a long 25 minutes left with the way we were playing. Our subs came on and did a tremendous job, Josh Stirman and George Snelling.
“It’s a throwaway line to say they changed the game but the tide certainly turned. The third goal gave us long enough to have that belief and it felt the momentum changed then slightly.”
Despite his mixed emotions over their performance, Golding is delighted for the club to have gone this far in the FA Vase.
“We’re blessed with a great squad, we’ve got such a good group of boys,” he added. “We’re really lucky with what we’ve got.
“I’ve said all along that the Vase is for the players and the club. What an occasion now to be two games away from Wembley.
“If you’d said at the start of the season, we’d have a double-legged semi-final then I’d have bitten your hand off.
“I’m so proud of the club, for everything we stand for and what we’ve achieved, it’s unbelievable.”
Wembley is potentially just 180 minutes away.
But with Corinthian still hoping to complete an historic treble this season – it’s not quite on the tip of everyone’s tongue just yet.
“It’s not been banned but the players were in the dressing room afterwards talking about Chatham on Tuesday night – that’s just the mindset that they’ve got,” said Golding.
“They’re looking forward to the semi-final but I don’t think Wembley will be mentioned.
“It’s at the back of the players’ minds and it would only be natural for it to be like that. They’ve given themselves a shot and that’s all you can ask for.”
Northern League Hebburn is just seven miles from Newcastle.
“I’ll be going up there – that’s what I’m thinking now already,” added Golding.
“I’ll have to look at their fixtures and work out when I can go up there, then we’ve got the second leg up there so we’ll have to leave on a Friday, take half a day from work.
“I’ll enjoy this win for a while first, though, and then the logistics of what is ahead will start to kick in.”
