GREAT Wakering Rovers boss Marcus Bowers insists reaching Wembley will not distract his side from their Essex Senior League play-off push.

Wakering beat Worcester City on penalties at the weekend to work their way through to next month's FA Vase final.

But Bowers says Rovers will not ease off ahead of the impending clash with Romford and remain eager to secure a top five finish despite an incredibly hectic schedule.

"The lads feet are still on the ground," said Bowers.

"The play-offs was the objective from me, the management team, chairman and players and it still is.

"That was the aim when we came in but it's a tough run with eight games in 12 days.

"We've probably got to win seven to get in the play-offs and it's going to be tough.

"We all have to put the Vase to the back of our minds which is also tough but we've got a job to do."

Wakering sat seventh in the table, 13 points behind fifth-placed Sporting Bengal United, with six games in hand ahead of tonight's match with Ilford at Burroughs Park last night.

But Bowers is already incredibly proud of what Rovers have achieved this season, including Saturday's memorable success which secured their place at Wembley.

“It's a dream come true and it's been a crazy, emotional roller-coaster,” said Bowers.

“It hasn't sunk in yet and it's the same for the lads.

“It's something to really look forward to and I’m so proud.

“We've been underdogs the whole way through and we’ve upset the odds in every round.

“We've been to some really difficult places but always managed to scrape through.

“It's something that will live long in the memory.”

Wakering overturned a one goal deficit from the first leg against Worcester City.

And Bowers used posts written on social media as extra motivation for his players.

“There was some stuff written on X writing us off,” said Bowers.

“There were people from Worcester, I'm not sure what they are to the club and if they're supporters or part of the club but lambs to the slaughter was one of the posts.

“It seemed to be a lot from one person but there were comments from others so we used it as motivation.

“I put a lot of the tweets up in the changing room and for me that was the team talk done.

It motivated the lads more than anything.”