Julian Darby was full of praise for his young charges after they kept open another possible route to silverware, writes Pete Oliver.
The Whites’ Youth Team is fighting on several fronts as they face an exciting run-in to a hectic campaign.
And they know at least one cup final place is booked after beating holders Blackburn Rovers in the Lancashire FA Professional Youth Cup.
“I'm delighted for the boys, really, because they've worked their socks off all season,” said Darby after a thrilling 3-2 win at Rovers in the semi-finals.
“We're unbeaten in the league so far this year. We've been in all the cups you can count on. There's been semi-finals, quarter-finals, and to actually get through to a final today, after going 2-1 down as well, shows the resilience and the character that's in the group.
“Blackburn are a Category One academy. They have some good players here and history shows that their academy is one of the best ones in the country.
“They always have players involved with the first team, so it was always going to be a tough game. They beat us in the final last year, 3-0 over at Leyland, so it was nice to come here and get a bit of pay-back.”
Having led 1-0 at the break thanks to a goal from regular marksman Daeshon Lawrence, Wanderers found themselves 2-1 down with 10 minutes to go at Rovers’ Brockhall training ground.
But goals from substitutes Latrell Lewis and Harry Leigh completed a superb fightback and deserved victory to set up another game and a final date with Blackpool.
The Whites currently head the EFL Youth Alliance league table by a point from Wrexham, having played three games fewer, with eight games to go and are also into the northern final of the EFL Youth Alliance Cup against Burton Albion.
But Darby’s immediate focus is Saturday’s trip to Preston to face the defending league champions in the next leg of their title quest.
“Listen, everyone understands how it works,” added the Youth Team boss, who resumed control of the U18s after a successful spell as caretaker-manager of the first-team in January.
“We're 16 games in the league and we’ve won 15 and drawn one. That puts a big target on your back because everyone wants to be the first team that does you.
“So we've got to go into every game with the right attitude, with energy, and at the moment, that's a tough thing, playing Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday.
“It's hard, hard graft because we only have 16, 17 outfield players and it's a case of trying to rotate them and keep everyone as fresh as we can, which is a really tough job at the minute.
“The under-18s are also involved with the B team, so it's not just the actual physical side of it, where they have to prepare. It's mental as well; just getting yourself up for every game.
“It can be hard, getting that motivation, getting that focus in your head. But listen, the boys have been absolutely brilliant and I can't speak highly of them enough, really.”
Watch a full interview with Julian Darby on the youth set-up and his time as acting first-team boss and on Wanderers TV