YORK City Ladies manager Chris Holloway has promised a battling performance tomorrow evening (7.45pm), as the Minsterbelles look to lift silverware at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium.

Holloway’s side will target the County Cup trophy versus Thornaby Women at Sky Bet Championship outfit Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium, with York hoping to build on their Women’s National League Division One North safety.

The Minsterbelles are looking forward to the prospect of playing at the Riverside, as Holloway discussed how preparation has been progressing whilst reflecting on a first season in charge.

“The girls are really looking forward to it, more so now knowing that they’ve secured safety,” Holloway told the club media team.

“To play in any stadium is a fantastic experience, but to play at the Riverside under the lights, even though it’s the end-of-the-season the pitch is in unbelievable nick.

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“We’re back on it tonight, the messages that I’ve had is that they are really looking forward to it.

“We’re focused and we will prepare like we did for any other game, that’s important that we don’t try and change things in terms of preparation, the way we prepare as staff and the way we get the girls to look at stuff.

“It’ll have a different feel to it, yes it’s a cup final where we’re probably the favourites, but it’s a different type of pressure and I know that they will be 110 per cent up for it.

“They will fight with tooth and nail, they’ll want to cause upset and they’ll want to win it for the fans.

“We’ve got to stand strong and hopefully we get that win to top off a great season.”

Holloway also took the time to reflect on safety in the division, ensuring that the hard work hasn’t stopped yet.

Holloway continued: “On Sunday, the big thing we spoke about was staying up and going on to win the County Cup.

“One has been ticked [off] and we know that we are in for a tough game next Tuesday, a great occasion at the Riverside.

“On Sunday we had a meal booked, the staff and the girls went out.

“That was brilliant, and that’s when it started to hit us that we were safe, and the joy on the players' faces.

“For myself personally, it was probably Monday evening when I sat there, reflecting on myself and starting to look at the Thornaby game.

“It was a fantastic effort and a fantastic achievement, I’ve said many times that it was not about myself, but everybody includes themselves on that.

“It’s those girls themselves, I couldn’t wish to lead another fantastic bunch like them, they’ve given everything.

“Like a lot of players at this level, they go to work full-time and that’s why it means more.

“When you have to do it, you have to juggle family like, work life and to get it over the line like we did, against an unbelievable side like Middlesbrough.

“It was backs to the wall, we found a way and we did it and it was nice to do it our own way.

“We kept the belief, the girls kept their heads up and kept the focus, they’ve bought into what we’re trying to implement. That’s the pleasing thing.”