Framlingham Town boss Liam Abraham states his side have a point to prove in Thurlow Nunn League First Division North play-offs against Cornard United

Framlingham Town boss Liam Abraham stated his side have ‘a point to prove’ and ‘an opportunity to put last year right’ in their Thurlow Nunn League First Division North play-off semi-final tie at home to Cornard United tomorrow (3pm).

The Castlemen were forced to settle for a place in the play-offs after Great Yarmouth Town sealed automatic promotion with victory at Whitton United on Saturday – despite Framlingham’s 4-0 dispatching of AFC Sudbury Reserves at Badingham Road.

This is Abraham’s outfit’s third consecutive First Division North play-off campaign, with the previous two having ended in semi-final defeats, which includes a heartbreaking loss on penalties to Harwich & Parkeston last season.

Asked what his side have learnt from the play-off defeats of the past, the Fram boss said: “(We know) what it feels like not to win, in all honesty. That pain and hurt you have from losing.

“The first year, we were just proud to be there, we’d scrapped in quite late on. Last year was very similar to this year. We were in the front two, front three for the majority of the season and just fell away.

“The play-offs is a one-off game, we’re very conscious of that and we’ve got an opportunity to put last year right as well.

“This season we’ve got to be proud of what we’ve done. But, when it comes down to Saturday’s game, it means absolutely zero unfortunately.”

The weekend’s win, thanks to goals from George Exworth, Johnny Kerridge and a Max Willett brace, saw Framlingham end the season 10 points ahead of third-placed Stanway Pegasus as they look to turn over Cornard United, who ended the campaign in fifth, in the one-legged semi-final tomorrow.

The home advantage could prove pivotal, as Abraham’s side have only lost one game at Badingham Road in the league all season, which came back in August with 10 men against Stanway.

However, the Ards finished the season on a 12-game unbeaten run, which stretches back to February, that includes a 3-1 win at home to Fram two weeks ago.

Abraham admitted Gary Monti’s side will arrive tomorrow ‘brimming with confidence’ and wants his team to make a statement after the reverse fixture.