Hinckley AFC manager Courtney Belford was pleased with his side’s defending in their 2-0 win over Barrow Town but wants more quality on the ball.
AFC moved three points clear at the top after a goal in each half edged them past county rivals Barrow.
It was a tenth consecutive home win for Belford’s side – comfortably a club record – but he said his side weren’t neat enough when they had possession and it made for a scrappy game. He said: “It was difficult.
“As soon as we lined up we realised there would be a lot of bodies in the middle of the pitch. It was about who created the most chances. We did that, we were clinical with not too many chances.
“We did ok, we worked hard but we need to tidy up a bit. A few of our footballers had a bit of an off day and too many of them at once.
“But at this stage of the season a clean sheet and a win we’ll take that all day.”
He admitted the conditions contributed to neither side being able to move the ball as well as they normally would.
It was a blustery evening at Kirkby Road, which made the midweek crowd of 255 even more impressive.
But Belford also felt there were other factors in his side not being at their best.
“We’ve struggled to get a run of games at the minute. When you go away to Aylestone and have to wait ten days for the next game after such a big game, you want to play again. We had that lull which we have had a bit since Christmas.
“It’s been difficult to really get going but hopefully now we’ve got a good run of fixtures, we can get hit the ground running and get back into a rhythm.
“It’s difficult when it’s stop-start, and you can’t replicate a game through training.
“Conditions were tough too but it was the same for both sides. There were two teams who wanted to win a game but found chances hard to come by.”
Despite that, Matt Hill and his defence kept a fifth consecutive home clean sheet – and they haven’t conceded from open play since returning to Kirkby Road.
Belford laid down a challenge to his side after conceding three to draw away to Graham Street Prims – and has been delighted with the response since.
“I said ‘I questioned you after that game (at Prims)’ and since then we’ve put on a run of a lot of clean sheets.
“Personnel helps. Luke Wilson was fantastic, Ben Vallance and Mikkel Hirst have been unbelievable. Since those two have been in the team there’s been an upturn and there’s no coincidence in that.
“Matt Hill managed the game well too. We’re looking a lot better as a defensive unit now. We don’t concede a lot of chances, the ones we do we’re doing as much as we can to keep the ball out of the net.
“And we’ll always create chances. We’ve got a lot of good goalscorers. Ranks and Charlie took their goals well.”
