Hartpury University manager Dr Martin Longworth believes their defensive record is the ‘backbone’ to their Hellenic League Division One form after going 18 games unbeaten.
Longworth’s side occupy second place in the league, despite a dismal start to the season where they lost three of their first six games.
And the boss believes that being solid at the back has aided them massively so far during this campaign.
“We pride ourselves on these clean sheets,” Longworth said.
“We’ve only conceded six goals from open play in the last 18 games and only conceded twice once this season, even in the three games we’ve lost it’s only been 1-0.
“We pride ourselves on defending from the front, with high-pressing and high-energy with our counter-pressing in midfield.
“It’s all down to the hard work and work rate, it’s the backbone to our success this season so far.
“From our perspective, we really pride ourselves on that,” Longworth added.
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The university side are chasing down high-flying Pershore Town who have a 10-point lead on his Hartpury outfit.
But Longworth, who is also a senior lecturer in sports coaching and physical education at Hartpury, says he is disappointed with the headstart his side gave the Plums.
“I think it’s really hard to look at it,” Longworth admitted.
“If we win our game in hand it goes to seven and we’ve still got to play them so it could go to four.
“They’re an exceptional outfit, very well-drilled, they had a head start on us so they had the time to prepare last season, and they finished well last season too.
“We gave them a six-game headstart which is our fault more than anything but we’re not necessarily looking at them in that way.
“Fortunately for us, we have lots of home games to come,” Longworth said.
Hartpury have forward Luca Robinson to thank for the majority of their goals so far during the campaign.
The sports business management student has 17 so far in the league and finished 2022 as his side’s top goalscorer.
But Longworth still believes that Robinson can improve.
“I said he should be first top goalscorer with 30 goals,” Longworth said following a conversation with the forward on Monday morning.
“His execution is brilliant, his crossing is quality and he’s got an eye for goal.
“He works really hard for us which is why he’s got himself into the team.
“You can’t be a winger or a striker in this team without working hard for us which is why he’s in the team.
As 2022 draws to a close, we look back on what has been a great year for the club!
— Hartpury University FC (@HartpuryUniFC) December 31, 2022
The squad have applied themselves excellently which includes college and university students, as well as Hartpury academic and sports academy staff
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“I’m quite tough on him as I used to be a winger myself so I pride ourselves on making sure our wingers add something different to the side.
“I have to tell him ‘don’t chase the outcomes chase the process’.
“He’s got one year of university so we hope we can keep him without the bigger teams taking him off us,” added Longworth.
Hartpury University continue their impressive FA Vase run when they travel to Atherstone Town on Saturday afternoon.
