James McKeown is hoping it is very much a case of third time lucky in The FA Trophy this year after penalty shoot-outs spoiled his two previous visits to Wembley Stadium.
The Grimsby Town goalkeeper was part of the team that finished runners-up in the competition to Wrexham in 2013, before the agony of spot-kicks set in again in last season’s National League promotion final against Bristol Rovers.
It is a record that McKeown is keen to erase and just two more games separate the Mariners from another Trophy final, with a home quarter-final at Woking next up on Saturday.
Grimsby Town v Woking
The FA Trophy
Fourth Round
3pm, Saturday 27 February 2016
Blundell Park, Grimsby
Winners receive £8000 from prize fund
By Ben Young
Grimsby will head into the fixture knowing that they have the beating of them, after Padraig Amond hit a double in a 3-1 league victory over the Cardinals on Tuesday.
And McKeown could not be more motivated to right some personal wrongs with another trip to Wembley on the horizon.
"Going to Wembley was incredible, it doesn’t properly sink in until you get there on the day," said McKeown, who started his professional career at Walsall.
"If you had told me when I was a kid I’d get two opportunities to play at Wembley I would have been delighted, but I wouldn’t have known as a goalkeeper I’d lose both on penalties!
"From a personal point of view it’s amazing to walk out on that pitch in front of so many people.
McKeown makes a save against Wrexham in the 2013 FA Trophy Final at Wembley
"The atmosphere is really good, so to play there twice is an unbelievable feeling. It would be nice to get there again and win this time.
"Our record against Woking hasn’t been too bad at all. I would much rather go into the game on Saturday having won the midweek game than lost it. It won’t do our chances any harm.
"We were pleased with the manner of the game, it was important that we showed a bit of character and bounced back after a disappointing loss against Halifax last weekend.
"It was nice with Saturday coming up to get the first psychological blow."
However, three-time winners Woking have a man in the dugout who knows exactly what it takes to lift The FA Trophy in assistant manager Steve Thompson.
Former midfielder Thompson has won the cup twice before – with Wycombe Wanderers and Woking – before returning to his former club as a coach in 2011.
And the 53-year-old has warned Grimsby that Woking will be a different proposition at the weekend, with The FA Trophy very much a big priority for the Surrey side.
"It is a very, very big game for us. Although the play-offs aren’t mathematically impossible, it is extremely unlikely that we’ll make them," explained Thompson.
"Our best chance of winning a trophy this year is through The FA Trophy and we don’t mind whether it adds an extra game or two to our season.
"Woking have a very big tradition in this competition, having won The FA Trophy three times. Hopefully we can go to the final and win it on the day."
