SCOTT McGleish was dreading facing his two biggest fans following his latest semi-final heartbreak with Wealdstone last night.
The veteran striker confessed he was something of a serial loser when it comes to cup semi-finals, with the 2-1 defeat to Concord being the eighth time in a career spanning more than 20 years with the likes of Colchester, Northampton, Wycombe and Orient he had suffered the sinking feeling of not making the last two.
And the worse part for the 39-year-old veteran was the prospect of having to tell football-mad sons Jack and Harry he had come up short yet again.
He said: “That’s six playoffs, two area finals in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy or whatever it is called now and no finals, so I kind of know what this feeling is like.
“It is raw now so we have got to reflect on it, go home and explain to the kids again that daddy failed again, but I guess they are getting used to that.
“It makes me think next time if we are in the playoffs I’m telling Gordon not to play me until we are in the final itself because obviously I’ve not been a lucky omen for any manager in a semi-final.”
McGleish reflected on a game which was the complete reverse of the league fixture between the two sides five weeks ago.
Back then their Essex visitors had dominated only for 85 minutes only for Stones to snatch victory with two late strikes, while here Stones overwhelmed Rangers and were within little more than a minute of a place in the final before going out in extra-time.
McGleish claimed such was the finger of footballing fate, though he felt Stones’ composure deserted them as they chased a leveller late on in the extra 30 minutes.
“We panicked a little. We had great play the whole game and the boys’ energy was phenomenal. We got it on the floor, passed it well, got in behind them, had chances and their keeper has pulled off great saves which he is there to do.
“Then when we went 2-1 down we bypassed the midfield where we had been getting all our joy and the longer ball was food and drink to their big boys. That happens because you know there is only 10 minutes left and the feeling is let’s just get it in the box, but then the quality goes.”
