COUNTY V WEALDSTONE (FA Trophy semi final first leg, tomorrow KO 3pm)

NEWPORT County manager Justin Edinburgh has warned his players that they’ll never get a better chance to play at football’s most famous stadium.

The Exiles are just 180 minutes away from a place at the hallowed ground of Wembley if they can overcome a club two levels below them in the football pyramid.

County’s fans are unsurprisingly slobbering at the prospect and Edinburgh isn’t about to play down the historical factor for a club that has never been to England’s national stadium.

“We’ve got to be honest about this, some of the greatest players of all-time, some absolute legends of the game never got to play at Wembley,” Edinburgh explained.

“The prize for winning the semi final should be ample motivation for my players and frankly if it isn’t there is something seriously wrong.

“They will be highly motivated and I want them to embrace the whole occasion and believe that this is our destiny, to get to Wembley and play in a cup final.”

Edinburgh is wary of the danger posed by Wealdstone.

“Put it this way, they have already knocked out Barrow and Cambridge United, both of who are better than us by quite a long way, according to the league table,” he said.

“They will believe they’ve got the best draw possible, they have 500 fans apparently heading down and it is going to be a great event to be involved with.”

County’s supporters will play a crucial role according to the boss.

"Anyone coming expecting a massacre or for us to roll over Wealdstone is probably going to be disappointed," he said.

"It might well be that the tie isn’t put to bed in the first game, it is going to be very difficult and we will need our fans more than ever.

"We need them to be very vocal, because Wealdstone won’t be used to a big crowd and they also need to be patient and stick with us."

Edinburgh’s interview with the Argus was the first time he had spoken with the Press since Tuesday’s 4-3 reverse at home to Braintree.

It was a contentious game with County’s Lee Minshull sent off after just eight minutes and the referee was subject to much frustration from the home fans, especially as Braintree’s fourth goal could and should have been ruled out for a foul on Glyn Thompson.

Edinburgh is still frustrated but has revealed there will be no appeal over Minshull’s red card.

“I have seen the replays and I feel we are right and that there was no intent,” he said. “But it’d be like Andy Sandell’s appeal, we are unlikely to win and don’t want the punishment made any worse.

Minshull will miss three games.