DENTON Town are backing up attitude off the field with results on the field as they stand just one game from a major cup final.
The Whittle’s Park side has been paired with Ashton-based Waterloo AFC in the semi-finals of the Manchester FA’s Footy.com Saturday Challenge Trophy, in which they won the ‘Denton derby’ with Dom Doyle FC, which was moved to Hyde United’s artificial pitch after wet weather took its toll.
A quirk of the draw means they will face a shorter trip to the game than the home team as the November 16 tie will be played at Wright Robinson High School in Abbey Hey.
But joint manager Phill Cooper believes the fact they are so close to the final shows how things have come on in such a short space of time from the start of the season.
And it is a good job Denton Town is doing well in the cup as they did not play a Cheshire League match in the whole of October.
“We had two very good results and performances,” he said, highlighting the fact Denton knocked out the winners for the previous two seasons, East Manchester.
“Firstly, beating local rivals Dom Doyle 5-1 in the second round of the Manchester FA Challenge Trophy and then East Manchester in the quarter finals.
“Things are slowly coming together and were all confident of a positive season, the future of the club is exciting.”
November not only sees Denton Town attempt to reach a cup final. They also take on Ashton Athletic Reserves, Orford and Malpas as they bid to return to the Premier Division.
For the first team, Aiden Hopkins found the net five times in the opening seven matches but reserve team strike Josh Wales, once of the books of Burnley, has found the net 11 times in just five matches.
Phill, though, believes the next month will highlight more pf the new group’s character as he added: “We have a few big games coming up. The lads have given themselves a shot at a cup final in our first season together which is a massive achievement.
“Let’s hope they can now go and deliver another top class performance.
“In terms of players, things have really come together and the group is as good as you’ll get at this level. Both on and off the field.”
Cole McGrath won the Player of the Month award for October.