NEWPORT County boss Justin Edinburgh hailed last night’s play-offs semi-final success as the best moment of his managerial career, as the Exiles ready themselves for an all-Welsh Wembley showdown.

The stakes couldn’t be higher with Newport and Wrexham battling it out on Sunday for the coveted 92nd spot in the Football League.

For County it represents a chance to finally see the 25-year-old vision of the Exiles’ founders finally come to fruition with a return to the Promised Land.

Christian Jolley’s brilliantly taken first half goal was enough for the Exiles whose Amber Army supporters will now descend on Wembley for the battle of North v South Wales.

And Edinburgh is determined it will be the Exiles who triumph in their biggest game since the club reformed.

“It was the ultimate team display, I am so proud of the players,” Edinburgh said.

“It’s strange, around January we took one defender out of the team and only played with three and since then we’ve kept numerous clean sheets.

“Every man has played their part, it’s been a fantastic group effort.

“For me, personally, it’s a huge achievement in a short space of time, this eclipses getting to the FA Trophy final and keeping the club up last season. It’s even more special.

“As a manager it’s my best day. I want to be a Football League manager and I want to do it with Newport, it’ll be a massive day on Sunday and I just want us to perform as I know we can.

“This group has a real belief and a desire to be successful.

“But I certainly don’t want to be a loser at Wembley two years running.”

Edinburgh believes the dynamic of it being an all-Welsh final adds extra spice.

“It’s a huge day for Welsh football, this tops off a phenomenal season and hopefully we will keep our nerve and these players will have one more big game in them.

“Wrexham have already won a trophy so let’s hope it’s us who gets the fairytale finish. We will enjoy today but obviously we need to be fully focused on what comes next.

“My hope was that it would be an all-Welsh final and it was my expectation as well. I told you (he did, privately last week) that I thought it would sneak up on Kidderminster and so it has proved.”

Edinburgh paid tribute to chairman Les Scadding who personally sanctioned and financed the signing of match winner Jolley.

“I thought they (Grimsby) looked bright, they made a few changes, more than I expected, but once the first 20 minutes were out the way I thought we were brilliant,” he said.

“The goal was a pivotal moment, one piece of individual brilliance and it’s a huge moment.

“A lot of people deserve credit and the chairman Les Scadding is definitely one of them because without him Christian Jolley wouldn’t even be here.

“I am delighted for the players, they’ve been very consistent and to make Wembley two years running, it’s so, so satisfying.”

The former Tottenham defender concluded by thanking a record Rodney Parade crowd.

“The fans have been the main reason I’ve stayed at the football club, they are magnificent, they didn’t let their nerves creep onto the pitch and all credit to them,” he said.