Caretaker boss delighted with back-to-back wins

CARETAKER boss Paul Davis says he will take a ‘minging’ 1-0 win at home to St Ives Town on Saturday if it maintains Stratford Town’s promotion push.

The Bards chalked up a second successive one-goal victory as they saw off visitors Bishops Stortford on Saturday, a result that hoisted them up to fourth in the table, six points behind Southern League Premier Central leaders Kettering Town.

Both wins - they beat Hitchin Town 1-0 the previous Saturday - saw Davis play a back three with an extra man in midfield.

He said: “It’s been a case of ‘so far, so good’. I know there has been a bit of criticism in that we have all our flair players on the bench and we might need to look at trying to get one or two of them in the team so that we can put a side to bed.

“But I’d take a minging 1-0 again on Saturday without doubt. If we get results then my feeling is that people will come and watch us.

“When you don’t score many goals, which we haven't, the way to win games is not to concede. As a team we are good defensively and it is not just the back four or back three. Even Callum [Ebanks] does his defensive duties from the front. So it is pleasing to keep two clean sheets.

“My job at the minute is to see if we can get as many results as we can. If, at the start of the season, you’d have offered us fourth in the league come December then I think we would all have taken it.”

Former Coventry City and Grimsby Town midfielder Will Bapaga was given his full debut against Bishops Stortford and impressed the stand-in manager.

David said: “I think a special mention must go to Will. I’ve always liked him and we’ve not been able to get him in much. He was on the bench last week but didn't get on. He trained well, deserved his start and I thought for the 60 minutes he played he was absolutely outstanding.

“We wanted to show a little bit more of an attacking intent down that side and I thought he gave us that.

“There’s obviously an element of frustration among those who are not playing but they understand the situation and are happy if we go out and win. I think we still might need to strengthen in one or two areas to add to what is already a good squad.

“We have been creating chances and my only criticism is that we haven’t been able to finish a team off when we are 1-0 up. At some point we are going to slap somebody.”