York City boss Stuart Maynard on what he said to players after Rochdale set up final-day National League shoot-out
YORK City manager Stuart Maynard insists he and his players moved on quickly following the remarkable twist of fate after the final whistle of their game against Yeovil last weekend - with promotion rivals and final-day opponents Rochdale setting up an incredible National League finale with events 200 miles away at Braintree.
The Minstermen were within seconds of securing their return to the EFL after a decade-long absence following a 3-0 victory over Yeovil, with title rivals Rochdale locked at 1-1 in their game at relegated Braintree.
York's players were pictured on the pitch, waiting for confirmation of the final outcome in Essex.
There was despair after news was relayed of Mani Dieseruvwe’s 99th-minute winner, which takes the fight for one automatic spot right down to the wire at Spotland.
On what he said afterwards within the confines of the dressing room, Maynard, whose side are in the driving seat with a two-point lead over their rivals, who will only leapfrog them with victory, said: "The minute the final whistle went here, there was the wait of five or six minutes on the pitch.
"Obviously, there's that natural reaction of feeling down when you feel you have got your hands on it and it's taken away.
"But the minute we got in the dressing room, we addressed the group and said: 'Look, you have got to go away now, enjoy this weekend with your families and look back on what you have achieved this season so far and where we have come from and where we are now’.
"We spoke after the game and said what we needed to say - that our sole focus is on Rochdale away.
"We said at Boreham Wood that we wanted to make sure we gave ourselves an opportunity to have it in our hands when we go away to Rochdale on that final day of the season.
"And I have said it a number of times - that is the only time that it matters to be top of the division and the lads have been incredible.
"We got there before then, but the only thing that matters is that, come the final whistle, we are top of this division and fighting hard for it, which we have done all season.
"At one point after Boreham Wood, it was five points (behind) with a game in hand (for Rochdale), which could have gone eight points.
"The lads have done incredibly well to claw those points back."
Despite the magnitude of events at Spotland, Maynard, who reports no injury issues, said that preparation has been normal ahead of such an epic contest.
Maynard continued: "We've kept it normal and we know the magnitude of the game.
"We know from the outside it will be documented as one of the biggest games in the English football pyramid this weekend, but for us, nothing changes.
"We were in on Monday, debriefing Yeovil and how we can improve and then it's the same lead into Rochdale.