“Confidence is a massive part of it – individual form and results play a part in that” – Bishop’s Cleeve assistant manager Freddy Ward ahead of Friday’s trip to Frome Town.
Cleeve have picked up five wins in seven and are pushing themselves closer to a mid-table position rather than a relegation battle.
A 94th-minute winner from Leroy Odiero in Tuesday night’s 2-1 win over Paulton Rovers did little to dampen the spirits at Kayte Lane.
“We were excellent and totally deserved the three points. We moved the ball so well and second half they couldn’t live with us,” says Ward.
“Who doesn’t love a last-minute winner? It was bouncing in the changing room at full time as expected.”
Having been promoted from the Hellenic Premier last season, Cleeve have had an inconsistent season but have picked up over the Christmas period and in January.
A six-game run where Cleeve failed to pick up a point against some of the big hitters was brought to an end when they overcame Slimbridge on Boxing Day.
“Last season was brilliant and one we’ll never forget, but as you know that’s history now.
“The management team of Jake (Parrott), Colly (Paul Collicutt) and I all know the Southern League well through playing and managing so it’s been no surprise to us that it would be a little up and down season. It’s a tough league and we’ll fight right up until the final game to get as high as possible,” continues Ward.
George Box from Bradford Town and Ross Langworthy from Fairford Town look inspired signings in 2022 and have struck up quite the partnership of late.
The losses of Jack Watts and Jordan Annear to Stourport Swifts this season will have hurt Cleeve, but Box has 10 this campaign and Langworthy has nine since mid-November.
“Losing Jack and Jordan was a big blow as both were great players for us but Boxy and Ross are really starting to gel and they’ve both played the level before so they know what’s required.
“Strikers are judged on goals, but we look for more than that and both are doing well in open play at the minute and hopefully it continues,” adds Ward.
The goals conceded column (47) is one that Cleeve will be intent on putting right but a change in tactics has seen them concede only seven in six games since the start of January – four of those coming against table-toppers Sholing.
“We’ve had a tweak in our formation recently and we’re now reaping the rewards from that. It’s also down to personnel and collectively we’re defending better from the front,” says Ward.
Bishops Cleeve travel to Frome Town on Friday night, 19:45 kick off.
Cover photo taken with full copyright by Brian Rossiter.
