IT'S been the toughest week of Lennie Derby's long stint as manager of Stratford Town. And it's not over yet, writes Mervyn Collins.

Five days after seeing his side fail to clinch a top two league finish, the Masons Road boss now has the task of lifting spirits ahead of tonight's Polymac Services League Cup final at Willenhall (7.30pm).

"We're all deflated and me more than anybody because I've been through it all before," Derby admitted on Tuesday. "We've got a training session tonight and it's my job to ensure that we get our heads back up and start to concentrate on the game against Rushall.

"We certainly didn't perform to our potential last Saturday but in the end it boiled down to two mistakes that cost us. We set our stall out to stop them playing and that was the reason why I only played one up front. The tactics were right as I was expecting them to come at us but you can't legislate for individual errors."

Derby admitted that he thought the game was going to fizzle out into a draw when Town levelled.

"We scored with perhaps the best move of the game but then allowed them back into the match," the Stratford manager lamented. "It was a big game for all the young lads and I thought they had shown that they were capable of dealing with the situations that faced them."

And, Derby admitted that his side will face more of the same tonight, while adding that retaining the cup wouldn't make up for last weekend's disappointment.

"It's not going to be about nice flowing football," Derby declared. "It's always tight between us and the team that wins the battles usually comes out on top."

Skipper Nigel Niblett will return after suspension and he could be one of only two survivors from the side that defeated Causeway United in last season's final.

Paddy Connelly is the other almost certain of his place, while two more of last year's medal winners, Michael Stephenson and Scott Darroch were left on the bench against Willenhall last Saturday.

However, Derby has to rule out ineligible trio, Steve Lockwood, Steve Fergusson, a substitute in 2003, and Craig Ball and that will leave the manager with plenty to ponder as Town bid to become the first club to retain the trophy.

The manager could also consider Brian Gray and Pete Spacey, both left out of the 16 last weekend, while Ian Clarkson is another defensive option if available.

More disappointment tonight could spell the end of Derby's successful managerial stint at Masons Road.

"I'm not going to speculate about next season but it's something that I have been thinking about," he honestly revealed.

"The decision doesn't lie with me but we'll get the final out of the way and then start discussing the next move."

Promotion isn't yet totally out of the question - it would appear that the committee looking into the rearrangement of the leagues are changing their minds week by week.

"Rumours are still abounding," Derby said, "but we didn't do ourselves any favours last Saturday!"