Away to Clevedon

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It was great to get back to winning ways, especially at a ground where we haven’t had much luck in recent years.

Formation wise, I went into the game with a 3-4-3 line-up. This meant I started with Burke, Barker and Fuller up front. This wasn’t to counteract anything that Clevedon could potentially throw at us, but to give us a bit more variation attacking wise, especially when we have struggled in recent weeks for goals.

In the opening period, I thought we controlled the game pretty well and Robbie Nightingale had an effort that actually hit the back stanchion and came out again, but the referee ruled that from the angle he saw the effort that it didn’t cross the line. We restricted Clevedon to long range opportunities and with one of them Zac Barrett did well to parry it away.

In the second-half we more or less continued where we left off before the break and dominated the match, and we were creating numerous chances. Steve Gentle was guilty of missing some chances when he came on. He was part of a number of changes I made which included moving Jamie Barker to the middle and also introducing Liam Nicell to right back who came on for Pat Bexfield. As the half progressed I thought the match was going to ebb away and we were going to have to settle for another draw, but then, Robbie Nightingale met a perfect cross from Tony Burke in the final moments and we are all obviously delighted to get a maximum return that has re-ignited our play-off hopes.

I can understand the frustration of the supporters at our lack of victories in recent weeks. Believe me, no one feels the frustration more than the players and myself. However, we shouldn’t look at it all with doom and gloom. Yes, the Banbury game was disappointing, but we carved them open on a number of occasions and if all the chances that we created had gone in, we would have come away with the points.

At the end of the day, it’s all about confidence. Going into the Banbury game we were on an unbeaten run, and despite what people think we were still in touch with the play-offs. What we hadn’t done is simply taken our chances and put teams away to go on and claim the points. With the Clevedon victory it has opened the door again and we are now looking forward to the next set of games.

With that in mind, I think out of the next three matches, we need to win 2 of them. On paper, we should win all of them, but the game at Hemel Hempstead on Tuesday will be tough. They have a new manager in the shape of Dean Brennan. He has come in and has made two new signings in the shape of players from Oxford City and Woking, so that is a statement of intent of their determination to dig themselves out of the relegation mire.

But as I say, the win on Saturday has certainly given us confidence. The squad is under no illusions that the task to make the play-offs will be tight. In the final few stages of the season, we have games against the likes of Nuneaton and Hednesford and all that is entwined with another possible two games in the CIC, and the League Cup final.

On the subject of the League Cup final, we go to Southampton on Thursday to play VT FC. Clearly they are a bit of an unknown quantity, but I will have them watched at their match at Windsor and Eton on Tuesday and we will preparing normally for that match with a professional approach and hope to get a result down there to give us every opportunity of winning the competition at Milton Road in the second leg.

Squad wise, I have been pleased with the contribution of Milton Elenge since he has come to the club. He looks strong and quick and has done well for us. Elsewhere, Neil Midgley may not feature on Tuesday, but will train with us before the Hemel game with a view to being available for the cup final at VT FC on Thursday.

The final month of the season certainly sees us with plenty to play for, and I’m confident that the team will push on and it will be great if they got some reward that their efforts deserve come the end of the campaign.