After a disappointing end to 2021 for Upton St Leonards Reserves, they’ve enjoyed the perfect start to 2022, much to the delight of manager, Jake Gurney.
As the 2021/22 season approached its halfway point at Christmas, The Saints has picked up just three wins in 13 games, leaving them in a Stroud League Division 2 relegation battle that could not have been predicted at the start of the season.
However, thanks to the introduction of numerous new players, Upton have started the New Year with two wins in two game, one in the cup and one in the league.
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Now, manager Jake Gurney firmly believes that this could be a turning point in their season, as he sets his sights on staying in the league.
“Looking at the table and the games we’ve played and the position we’re in, the aim is to stay in the division.
“We are more than capable with the players we have in this squad but again it’s just having the commitment of the players to turn up and turn out every week, wanting to win and wanting to do it.”
The Saints currently find themselves in 10th place out of the 13 in the league and two points above the relegation zone, however, some teams below to have a game in hand.
Saturday’s 3-1 win against second place Minety was a sign of things to come, with new signing Akeen Wright bagging two.
Wright was one of four new faces in the Upton line-up, introductions that came as a much-needed boost.
Gurney expressed his joy with them, saying:
“With the new players coming in, obviously we haven’t really had any training with them so far so for them to turn up on matchday and fit straight in was really handy. It was great.
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“It’s all about commitment from the players, it helped massively having a full squad, it gave me a better opportunity to be able to rotate players around and do what I wanted to do formation wise.
“The four new players came and took to what I wanted straight away.”
Ultimately, Gurney is in high spirits and believes that Upton will win themselves safe at the end of the season.
“I think that’s going to be the main goal, staying in the league this season. We’re nowhere near where we should be but with Covid and breaks in between it’s been tough for players but I think we’ll be okay, I think we’ll be fine.”
Upton are in action again on the 29th January as they travel to AFC Renegades in a hope to continue their good form.
