Central Coast captain Nick Montgomery is eager for his chance to impress in this season’s FFA Cup.
The Mariners take on nine-time Victorian NPL champions Green Gully next Tuesday night in the Round of 32, a game which the veteran midfielder approaches with cautious optimism.
“I know they are physical and strong…we are preparing for what’s going to be a battle,” said Montgomery.
“[In] any of these games if you go there and don’t turn up, or turn up with the wrong attitude, you will get turned over and that is something we can’t afford.
“They have a good reputation for a reason and we are not taking them lightly.”
The 34-year-old knows that despite their opposition coming from the state league, the knockout competition can turn up an upset at any moment.
“There’s pressure on every single one of us to go out there and perform,”
“They’ve got players who are chomping at the bit and would do anything to be in the A-League.
“We’ll give them the respect they deserve, but we will go there and be confident that if we play well…we have more than enough in the locker to get through.”
A native of Leeds in England, Montgomery claims he had been glued to the opening night of the tournament’s action on Tuesday.
“To be fair it just reminded me of being back home and the FA Cup…it’s a great competition,” said the Mariners skipper.
“There’s some good [NPL] players…for them it’s an opportunity to grab a scalp of an A-League team and impressive on TV.”
Tony Walmsley’s men will have some extra support in the stands, however, as a member of the ‘Mariners Brass Band’ and a personal friend of Montgomery’s has flown in villagers from Vanuatu to watch the match.
“Last year we got a load of old kit we had and sent it over to Vanuatu, so now we’ve got a massive supporters group…and a couple of them have come over for the first time.”
“They’ve gone from never seeing an airplane…to all of a sudden being embroiled in this FFA Cup dream…it’s an amazing story.”
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