Wilder's men raring to go

His decision to rest several key players has paid dividends, and only long-term injury victim Adam Murray is ruled out of the semi-final, first leg at Rushden & Diamonds on Thursday.

Franny Green missed Saturday’s final game of the regular season at Eastbourne because of illness earlier in the week, but he is fine again, so Wilder had everybody reporting in on Sunday to prepare for United’s biggest week of the season.

“Everybody’s fit,” he declared. “We’ve protected a couple, gave important minutes to others and we’re raring to go.

“There are several who played on Saturday who will be playing, but other clubs in our situation rested players as well. Rushden have done that for the past two or three weeks and so have Luton.

“A lot of people think it’s a given that it’s us and Luton in the final, and that’s just not the case.

“All the results of the matches between the play-off teams have been tight this season.

“I’ve seen it suggested that we’re pleased to have Rushden instead of York, but that’s not the case. The only advantage of it being Rushden is that we don’t have so far to travel and it’s not so far for the fans.

“We know what’s at stake, motivation will not be a problem.

“It’ll be just down to how indivduals perform, how teams perform and refereeing decisions in each game.

“I said around Christmas that with the group of players there, I would not be surprised if Rushden come through and reach the play-offs.

“They’ve got some really good players and some really good youngsters, it’s a nice blend, and Justin Edinburgh’s a good manager.

“We’ve just watched the DVD of Saturday and both DVDs from the league games, and they were both tight.”

It was Craig Farrell, who was with the U’s last season, who put Rushden ahead in the league game at Nene Park, before Sam Deering equalised, while it took a late Adam Chapman penalty, after James Constable had missed one, to separate the teams at the Kassam Stadium.