Bards boss ready to build on positives
STAYING positive is key for Stratford Town manager Gavin Hurren as he looks to prepare his side for the visit of Southern League Premier Central front-runners Mickleover on Saturday.
The Bards will go into the game smarting from back-to-back defeats including their exit from the FA Trophy last weekend following a penalty shootout at Nantwich Town. Third-placed Hitchin Town then edged a 1-0 win on Tuesday.
Hurren said: “It’s both frustrating and disappointing. As performances go, I thought we played really well against Nantwich but we weren’t clinical enough in front of goal and if you don’t take those chances and it goes to a penalty shootout then it becomes a lottery.
“Hitchin are an in-form side sitting third in the league so we knew we had to be up for it. I thought we started really well and I thought our football in the first half was some of the best we have played all season in terms of being brave and getting on the ball and moving it. We were by far the better side but when you are on top like we were, then you have to take one of your chances. If we had got one then it would have been a different game.
“The second half was a little more disappointing. I felt we took our foot off the gas and Hitchin came more into the game but I still felt it should have been a 0-0 because we have switched off for their goal.
“It is a tight league and we are still just six points off the play-offs but we’re not getting the rub of the green at the moment.”
Hurren, who recently chalked up his 50th game in charge, said it was key that the team learnt from their mistakes.
He added: “It’s disappointing and I know the lads and the fans are frustrated at the moment but we need to keep working on things and stay positive. Last season was tough after we exited the FA Cup and Trophy but we all stuck together, worked for each other and it came good. It’s important that we keep staying positive going into another important game on Saturday against leaders Mickleover.
“My job is to keep the spirits high. We have lost two games of football but there are a lot of positives in the way we are playing. It’s all about fine margins in this league.”
Young winger Finn Harvey made his debut in midweek and there was also an appearance off the bench for Devonn O’Sullivan on his 17th birthday. And according to Hurren, there are a number of other impressive youngsters on the club’s academy programme ready to break into the first team.
Harvey, a former Loughborough University student, linked up with the Bards in the summer while O’Sullivan has already made a number of appearances, particularly in pre-season.
Hurren said: “Devonn and Finn came off the bench and I thought they were both excellent in tricky circumstances. We need to be sensible though as they are still developing as footballers.
“We are a young team by and large and the boys are learning each week. Sometimes people forget the age of our squad but it is a massive positive for the football club that we have these young players that we are developing and they are holding their own against much more experienced sides.
“When you look through the team there’s Callum Ebanks, Dan Lafferty, Dan Vann, Alex Worley, Charlie Williams – they are all so young. But we feel we have a team that can compete and there are others coming through the ranks. It is a promising place to be.”
