Adams looks to build on cup positives with vital points

FOOTBALL

CARL Adams insists Stratford Town are better than their league placing of 19th in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier suggests.

But the discrepancy between performances and points will only intensify the determination to produce a winning display against Dunstable Town tomorrow (Saturday) at the MoodChimp Stadium.

Manager Carl Adams was upbeat after the midweek Birmingham Senior Cup tie with Solihull Moors, despite Town bowing out in a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw.

After the heartache of the FA Cup exit to Scarborough and then the dismal 4-0 drubbing at Hitchin, the performance against National League Solihull showed plenty of pluses.

But Adams stressed Stratford also need to show the right character to bounce back from any setback.

“We said to the players before Tuesday that our balloon got popped against Scarborough in the FA Cup,” said Adams. “But it is a test of character to see how we bounce back.

“We didn’t do that at Hitchin. That was the poorest performance I have had under my leadership. It was really that bad.

“But on Tuesday it was a case of stripping it back to basics and growing again. It was just a shame we couldn’t win the shoot-out because that would have been another positive for us. But it was a good performance.

“We know we now need to take that into Saturday against Dunstable. We know we need to get our game together and get some points on board.

“I do feel that at the moment sitting in 19th place in the table isn’t a true reflection of how we have done this year. I try to be honest with the fans and everybody at the club but we have probably played two bad games in 13 this season. I don’t think we’ve had that little bit of luck at times but it is up to us to go out and get the points.”