sport news Newport Pagnell aim to make more history as the look to win second successive ... trends now
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To many the town of Newport Pagnell is best known for its service station on the M1. But as they head to Wembley on Saturday in search of more silverware, the town’s football team are doing their best to write their own chapter in local history.
It all began last season, where they trounced favourites Littlehampton Town 3-0 in the FA Vase final. Less than a year later and non-League’s cup experts are back, fighting for the same prize and the chance to become only the fifth side to win consecutive Vase trophies.
Their route to the Wembley showpiece has been no less dramatic this season. Pagnell have earnt themselves the title of the penalty shootout kings within the lower reaches of the pyramid, having won three shootouts last year and three more this year on their way to the final.
Call it fortuitous, a coincidence even. But Pagnell’s 33-year-old goalkeeper Martin Conway, a PE teacher by trade, would argue otherwise. Across both seasons he has proved not only hard to beat from 12 yards but also deadly from the spot himself, having scored and saved at least one penalty in all but one shootout across the two cup runs.
‘I don’t want to second-guess myself but I genuinely can’t remember losing a penalty shootout since I started playing adult football aged 16,’ Conway explains.
The Newport Pagnell players celebrate with fans after making it through to another FA Vase Final where they'll play Ascot United
The team's goalkeeper Matt Conway is a PE teacher by trade but will now play at Wembley
‘People will say it’s luck but there’s something about penalty shootouts. ‘Keepers either enjoy them or they don’t and I absolutely love them. I’ve always played out on pitch as well as in goal. I played a few games in the Conference North for Hinckley United as a sub keeper but I’d also come on as an outfield player.
‘You take so much stick when
