Boss Stone hoping Warwick win is just the start as Doughboys gear up for Long Eaton test
Wellingborough Town boss Jake Stone is hoping Saturday's much-needed 3-1 win over Racing Club Warwick is just the start from his team as they look to climb away from the lower reaches of the Pitching-In Northern Premier League Midlands Division.
The Doughboys went into the crucial clash at the Dog & Duck off the back of a six-match run without a win, a sequence of results that saw them slide from the fringes of the play-off places to one place and one point above the relegation zone.
But Borough shrugged off their poor form to race into a 3-0 lead at half-time thanks to a Will Jones double and one from Danny Draper, and although skipper Jack O'Connor was red-carded early in the second half, they held on for a crucial three points.
Despite the victory, Borough remain just one point above the bottom four, although they have climbed to 16th on goal difference.
The victory was a big relief for Stone, who was delighted with the response of his players to their previous encounter, a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Sutton Coldfield Town.
But he is making it clear to his squad that he is now expecting the weekend levels to be replicated week in, week out, starting with Saturday’s trip to Long Eaton United.
"We are under no illusions that we find ourselves in a position in the table that we certainly don’t want to be in," said Stone.
"But there is only one way to get yourselves out of it and that's by working hard, sticking together and all taking responsibility for it, rather than feeling sorry for ourselves.
"We had a great week of training last week and the lads put in a lot of work physically and mentally on Tuesday and Thursday, which was needed after the Sutton Coldfield result.
"I believe Saturday's performance was a result of the work the lads had put in throughout the week.
"It’s now the next step to try and do this back-to-back and try and build some momentum."
Such is the competitive nature of the Midlands Division, although the Doughboys are currently dicing with the relegation zone, they are also just seven points off the top five as only 10 points separate second-placed Belper Town and 18th-placed Loughborough Students.
Saturday sees Borough, who were 3-0 winners over Northampton Town Under-18s in the NFA Hillier Senior Cup on Tuesday, go to 12th-placed Long Eaton, and they know if they can claim a win they will leapfrog their hosts.
And Stone said: "I know all the managers in this division are saying the same things.
"It’s the most competitive league there has been for some time and no matter where you are in the league, if you do not turn up on the Saturday, you will come away with nothing."