CARL Adams believes Stratford Town’s players now realise that only their best is good enough to continue bringing success to the club.
Town followed an impressive league 4-2 victory away to Slough Town on Saturday by claiming a second giant-killing in the Birmingham Senior Cup on Wednesday with a 2-0 victory against an experienced Walsall side.
It maintains a growing momentum, with Town having now lost just twice in a dozen games, and manager Adams says they need to keep raising the bar.
The Town boss suggests the recent additions of defender Anthony Charles and midfielder Jack Roberts has shown his squad that he will only be satisfied if standards keep improving.
“I’ve been banging on about being consistent and threatening changes if I couldn’t see the players respond,” said Adams. “Then bringing in Anthony and Jack meant the players could see I was serious.
“It was a kick up the bum for them and they have responded. I’m really pleased with the way we’ve been playing in the past few weeks.
“Even though we’ve been missing lads through injury, those players who have come in have stepped up.”
Town lie 17th in the Southern League Premier Division but only five points off 11th place and with games on hand.
They play the bottom two sides in the next two fixtures, entertaining Paulton Rovers on Saturday and then heading to basement side Bedworth United on Tuesday.
“We’ve got to be looking for six points from the next two games and that would put us in a strong position to go into a tough run of games over Christmas and the new year,” added Adams.
Top scorer Edwin Akenkorah will not be risked this weekend as the striker rests a hamstring niggle, but midfielder Emmitt Delfouneso is now fit after his ankle problem.
Midfielder Roberts plays the last game of his one-month loan from AFC Telford United but Adams is keen to extend his stay and is in talks with Bucks boss Rob Smith.
“I want Jack to stay and we’re trying to do a deal for another month,” added Adams.
Town booked their place in the Senior Cup quarter-finals with a fine display against Walsall at the DCS Stadium.
Aaron Moses-Garvey opened the scoring following a free kick eight minutes into the second period and youngster Charlie Faulkner wrapped up the victory a minute from time.
‘Fantastic’ was Adams’ description of the 4-2 win on Saturday against Slough.
Despite falling behind to Charlie Mpi’s seventh-minute toe-poke, Town led 3-1 at half time after goals from Michael McGrath, Jamie Sheldon and Ahenkorah.
Lewis Putman’s stunner gave Slough hope ten minutes after the break but Richard Gregory added Town’s fourth.
