Midfielder Delighted With SSC Win
“That’s exciting. I’ve missed playing a lot and to just be involved would be nice. Even if it’s travelling to sit in the stands – I’d take that any day because I’m involved.“We’ll see how it goes in the next couple of days if it feels good in the recovery period and we’ll take it day by day.” And on Ian Dawes’ comments, he added:
“It was a good strike to be honest. In the last month I’ve been practising my finishing, I don’t know why because I don’t get in the position often but I like to think if you practise your finishing it helps your all round game and it paid off tonight.
“I’m very happy with the finish and more than happy with the team and that it got us back into the game and helped pick up that trophy."
The former Oldham and Peterborough player, who Youth Team Manager Ian Dawes believes is ready to be back in contention with the first-team squad, hasn’t been known for his share of goals in the past, but tonight’s strike was one no fluke, according to Wesolowski, who insists he has been working on that part of his game.
“I think that’s probably the biggest bit because, and I’ve been told by a lot of people who have had the injury and from Skitty (Chris Skitt, Physio) that it is the mental block of just forgetting about the knee and that’s when you’ve come through the other side,” he said.
“I think over the last week or so I think that’s started to happen. I’ve been sharper and I’ve felt a lot better and just been thinking about my football and not my knee which is a good feeling.
“It felt good tonight. There were a few stages in the game where you sort of breathe quite heavily but you get that second wind, you get through that wall and come through the other side and you feel better. Getting that 90 minutes tonight definitely was a good thing and it’s all fitness in the tank.
“The plan was to get through 45 and come in at half-time and then to go out in the second half and see how it felt. It was a bit stiff going out in that second half but as the game progressed it loosened up and I wasn’t really thinking about my knee it was more of the lungs that was getting at me.
“We were very happy with that and to come through the other side injury free which I’m very happy with.”
Wesolowski, who had made his comeback in the reserves last week, believes he is starting to edge closer to match fitness and feels the hardest part of the recovery, the mental part, is over.
“It was a good night,” said the midfielder.
“It’s always nice to win a game no matter what it is and to lift the trophy was a nice feeling for all of us, especially the young lads. I think they’ve done really well tonight. They’ve learned a lot and a few of them stepped up and took a penalty which was nice to see.
“I think the best bit of the night was watching some of the young lads. It was tough in the first half and the whole team was not at their best. They showed character and came out in the second half and fixed the things themselves that needing fixing on the pitch. I think we owe a lot to them on how well they did tonight.
“The two lads at the back Callum (Grogan) and Joel (Bonner) did very well. I was very impressed with them. When Callum trains with us he does very well and I think he’s a promising one for the future.”
And Wesolowski was not only delighted to get more minutes under his belt, but to see how much character the younger lads showed in helping Town to victory.
It was the Australian midfielder’s thunderous strike that restored parity for Ian Dawes’ side after AFC Telford striker John Coffie had put his side ahead just a few minutes into the second half.
Aside from pipping their near neighbours to the on penalties, following a 1-1 draw after 90-minutes, they also got to witness influential midfielder James Wesolowski making great strides in his recovery from a cruciate knee ligament injury as well as seeing some impressive performances from the Town’s youth set-up.
It was a good night all round for Shrewsbury Town and their supporters in the Shropshire FA Senior Cup final.