THIS weekend’s trip to league leaders Farsley Celtic cannot come soon enough for Radcliffe Borough boss Joe Gibbons after Tuesday night’s cup final shock at the Macron Stadium.

Gibbons’ Evo-Stik First Division North outfit went into the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy final as favourites, but minnows Ashton Athletic came from behind to score a stoppage-time winner.

The Boro manager admitted to waking up in a cold sweat the morning after as he replayed key moments of the 2-1 defeat against the Hallmark Security League Premier side in his mind.

And he has challenged his players to flush that disappointment out of their system with a big display at the champions elect.

“I woke up after the defeat and wished we had a game that day,” said Gibbons.

“Saturday felt like a long time to wait.

“You know what it is like, you replay things in your mind, thinking what you could have done differently.

“It’s not a healthy way to be and couldn’t wait to get into training to play it all out.

“Going to the league leaders might feel like a tall order after going through an ordeal like that, but you have to play every team twice and it presents the lads an opportunity to show what they can do.”

Gibbons believe he will get a good response, as Boro go in search of the four points they need to secure survival in the division.

“The players will be hurting as they put in such a lot of work to get to the final,” he added.

“But they have been given a taste of football on a big stage now and I am sure they will be inspired to re-double their efforts now to get back there.”