CARL Adams has challenged his Stratford Town side to show they have the consistency to become top ten challengers.
The Town manager wants his players to show their inner desire and to turn team spirit into points by learning from each other.
Town rattled up their biggest win of the Southern Premier season on Saturday, sweeping aside visitors Dunstable Town 5-1, led by a hat-trick from Mike Taylor, and then powered to a 7-4 win at Evesham United in Wednesday’s Bigfreebet.com Challenge Cup first round contest, with Jazz Luckie netting four.
They face Royston Town on Saturday at the MoodChimp Stadium before a trip to Merthyr Town on Tuesday and then an FA Trophy tie at home to Warwickshire rivals Bedworth United next Saturday.
Adams could see the confidence flowing back against Dunstable, with Taylor and Justin Marsden both bagging their first goals of the season, and again against Evesham. It erased some of the pain after their FA Cup exit to Scarborough Athletic, but they need to push on again, stressed the boss.
“The confidence can’t always come from me,” said Adams. “It has to come from within the players themselves and that’s what I’m trying to get them to understand.
“They have got to lift each other because sometimes I need lifting too. The Scarborough result has really hurt this squad but we have got to move on.
“We have only really had two bad games all season.
“I keep telling people that we have played a lot of big teams already and got some really tough away games out of the way.
“We need to put a run together, play with confidence and if we do that we are not going to be far away from a top ten team. That’s what I want.”
On Saturday against Dunstable, fit-again Edwin Ahenkorah netted the first goal after seven minutes from Will Grocott’s cross before Taylor added a neat finish to a bludgeoning run for 2-0 on 26 minutes.
Then the centre forward nodded in Grocott’s corner and followed with another header from Charlie Evans’ right-wing cross just before half time.
Although Dunstable replied through Andrew Osei-Bonsu’s well placed strike on 59 minutes, Town substitute Marsden made it 5-1 on 73 minutes.
Defender Andy Gallinagh has been named Town’s player of the month. He was presented with the Specsavers-sponsored award after the Dunstable game.
Town host their Halloween party on Friday at the MoodChimp Stadium with a bonfire, fireworks, live music and family fun.
Gates open at 6pm, with the fireworks display starting at 7.15pm.
