'WEMBLEY PAIN DRIVING US ON

Canteen picture fires up Tanto

- Dave Flett

 

STOCKPORT County striker Tanto Olaofe has revealed how a permanent reminder of last season’s play-off final defeat is being used to spur them on to automatic promotion this term.

A photograph of the losing Wembley dressing room following the penalty shoot-out loss to Carlisle has been pinned up in a place that nobody can avoid when reporting for training.

And Olaofe reckons its motivational value cannot be over-estimated with last weekend’s 3-1 win at Harrogate lifting the club to the top of the League Two table following an eighth straight victory in all competitions.

The 23-year-old forward, who went into this weekend as the Hatters’ leading marksman with nine goals, confesses that he thought victory had been wrapped up under the famous arch when he was substituted at 1-0 up in the 82nd minute.

But, moments later, Omari Patrick levelled for the Cumbrians, who subsequently won on spot-kicks as Olaofe, who had also been on the losing side at the national stadium the season before as Sutton lost to Rotherham in the EFL Trophy final, watched on helplessly from the touchline.