CHORLEY boss Matt Jansen said he had a tear in his eye after guiding the Magpies to the National League North play-off final.
Jansen's side overturned a 1-0 first-leg defeat to Kidderminster Harriers with a stunning 2-0 win at Aggborough to propel themselves to within a game of the National League.
Chorley will travel to Halifax on Saturday for the play-off final with Jansen telling his side to finish the job, but he admitted to a few tears after his side's win in Worcestershire, which was capped by Adam Roscoe's dramatic injury-time strike.
"We came here knowing there was nothing in the at Victory Park and it could have gone to us. They scored a worldie of a goal but we were the better team in the second half at Victory Park," he said.
"We've beaten them before and we draw here. We weren't going to be gung-ho, we were going to bide our team. We were causing them a few problems and then Marcus went through and took his goal remarkably well.
"We knew second half they would came at us, we set we'd soak it up and counter them. A few of them were dying with injuries and cramps, Josh O'Keefe who hasn't played many minutes had to come off due to cramp and tired legs, Stevie Jordan the same, then Marcus Carver, who put in a tireless performance.
"We were looking around and thinking 'what we can do to be a threat going forward?'. We thought we'd take Roscoe out the hole and put him up front, he's got a knack of scoring in big games and that's exactly what he did.
"It was nervy when the ref was reluctant to blow that final whistle but when he did it was elation and their was a tear in my eye."
Jansen praised the spirit of his side and the Magpies fans who made the trip, but said Chorley now had to finish the job and earn promotion next week.
"We haven't got the budget and the luxury to have this player and that player, what we've got is work ethic and a team that will fight for their lives," he said. "They put their bodies on the line, their running tirelessly, they give anything.
"That was the team talk, 'you're the underdogs but just give your all and wear your heart on your sleeve'. They did that. They're a huge asset to this football club because they're a unit, they're a team and they're together and they have been all season. I'm so proud of them.
"The fans were outstanding again. The players throwing their bodies on the line and running that extra yard is down to the fans singing and if they can keep doing that they get us to where we go.
"The dressing room was loud, but we haven't done it yet, we've got another game. We'll enjoy this for a couple of days and we'll take this confidence into Saturday and hopefully we can do it one more time.
"The job isn't finished, we know we've got one last push. We'll go there full of confidence and if we can play like that we've got every chance."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here