Thetford Town boss Mark Scott has warned his players their season will be a failure if they don’t gain promotion to the Ridgeons Premier Division - days after his side reached the Norfolk Senior Cup final.

The Brecklanders hammered Anglian Combination outfit Norwich St Johns 9-0 in Saturday’s semi to reach their first major in 21 years. They will face Premier Division Gorleston at Carrow Road on May 14 but Scott has told his players to forget about the showcase fixture for now.

Scott said: “Reaching Carrow Road is a fantastic achievement and it will be a great day for the club and the players. However, we need to put it to the back of our mind.

“The league is our priority. We’re eight points behind Godmanchester and we still need to win every game but we’re back on track and we want to win the league. We need to focus because every game between now and May is a cup final in itself.

“A lot could happen between now and then so players need to perform to be in the team on that day. Nobody can rest on their laurels because if we don’t get promotion this season will be a failure.”

A Matt Dixon hat-trick, braces from Steve Davies and Steve Harley and goals from Bruno Tavares and Simon Mann sealed the rout as Thetford outclassed St Johns at Munford Road.

Scott praised his side’s maturity on the day as he hit out at the visitors’ “aggressive” approach which he believes made the game easier for his Ridgeons First Division promotion hopefuls.

“We knew they would give a good account of themselves but they came with way too much aggression. For me they went over the top and were far too intent on kicking us rather than playing their own game,” said the Thetford boss.

“It was to their detriment as they gave away far too many fouls and we didn’t get involved with it. To our credit we didn’t retaliate, we just moved the ball quicker. Even though they were a lower division side and people expected us to win, nobody could have predicted a 9-0 scoreline in such a big competition’s semi-final.”

Thetford lost 1-0 against March Town United in the Ridgeons First Division Knockout Cup quarter-final last night.

Scott’s fourth-placed side entertain basements boys Cornard United on Saturday (3pm) before welcoming Downham Town on Tuesday (7.45pm).