AFC Liverpool manager Matt Potter expressed his delight after their 2-1 win over Cheadle Town saw them advance in the FA Vase.
Two goals in six minutes from Jesse Dowling and Billy McCarthy got the Non-League Reds off to a flying start as they raced into a 2-0 lead after just 10 minutes.
Whilst there was chances to add to their lead, the visitors fought back with just over a quarter of an hour remaining when Cheadle Town captain Patrick Davin reduced the deficit.
Despite a tense ending, AFC Liverpool held on and moved to within four matches of the final at Wembley in May.
“I’m very happy, with cup games it’s about getting through, getting to the next round and see who we get in the next round,” Potter told Off The Park.
“Happy with how we played in the first-half, the second-half I think we weren’t at it, switched of a little bit and to be fair to Cheadle they kept going.
“It was a little bit unfortunate for them because they had several chances at the end where they could’ve took it to pens or even won it so fair play to them. But again, we come to get the job done, next round, see what that brings in the last-32.”
AFC had to overturn a three-goal deficit against Lower Breck in the Liverpool Senior Cup on Wednesday. Potter believes that their experience just days earlier helped them during Saturday’s contest.
MATCH REPORT: AFC Liverpool 2-1 Cheadle Town: McCarthy stunner and Dowling opener inspire Reds to FA Vase progression
He added: “It’s nice, it’s almost like the games we played before these gave us an insight – if you believe in fate. So when we played FC St Helens we had a player sent off in the first-half and played with 10 men, in the midweek game before that against Congleton, we had a player sent off and played that with 10 men.
“The Breck game where we came out second half and had nothing to lose, it’s again a lesson that has timed nicely to go for us where we got a 2-0 lead, could’ve pushed on or tried to manage the game a little bit more but those lessons, that experience is vital, put us in good stead.
“We’ve got 10 days until our next game which is a midweek one so it’s nice to sit on this and recharge our batteries because it’s been very very busy.
“It was good, it’s how we started – which was bright – Jesse’s forced a mistake, slotted it and a good finish. Billy’s come round, opened up and he’s wrapped his foot round it and it’s got top bin – it’s outstanding.
“It’s nice that the goals aren’t coming from just one person, spread out and the chances we’re getting are positive and good.”
“Still ignited, we’ll see eagerly who we get next in the draw and it puts us to where we were last year,” he continued on their pursuit of FA Vase silverware. “Hopefully we can kick on and do better, keep chasing and driving down that road.”
