NEW Midland Combination Division One league leaders Fairfield Villa have been urged to remember recent harsh lessons when they travel to struggling Newhall tomorrow (2pm).
Boss Paul Oakes has been delighted with the way his side have responded since their shock defeat against Division Three outfit Inkberrow three weeks ago but has warned his side to remember that performance before they leave the changing room tomorrow.
“We’ve responded very well since that Inkberrow defeat but tomorrow provides us with another big potential banana skin,” Oakes said.
“Newhall might be struggling at the wrong end of the table but we still have to work hard and show the same spirit and commitment we have done in the last two weeks in order to get the right result.”
Newhall currently sit 15th in the table with just two wins to their name so far whilst Villa went top following Saturday’s 3-2 home success against Castle Vale Reserves.
Stuart Hall, playing in the hole behind the two strikers, opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a fine chip over the keeper but Castle Vale were level before the break after making the most of a mishit clearance.
Andy Nicol restored the lead at the start of the second half with a fierce shot that went in off the post before Dave Rousell made it 3-1 after latching on to Hall’s fine pass.
The visitors made it 3-2 with 20 minutes left but Villa held on to record their tenth league success of the season.
“The change of formation with Hall dropping deep really worked well,” Oakes said.
“He enjoyed plenty of time on the ball and really made things happen. It also allowed Shaun Maynard to make his debut up front and he did superb. He showed more qualities to his game than I realised he had and he has settled in brilliantly. His arrival and Hall’s ability to play in that new role really has improved our options.
“I thought we deserved the victory and felt we were in control of the game despite the close scoreline.
“The conditions were not great but the pitch held up superbly and that is credit to our committee who did a superb job with it in the summer.”
Oakes admitted there are still areas he would like to improve, particularly the amount of goals Villa are conceding at home.
“It is a strange situation because we barely concede away from home yet have conceded quite a few at home. The close nature of the table means it could come down to goal difference at the end of the season so it is important we tighten up.
“Being top of the table at the moment is nice but it means nothing really at this moment in time. It is hard work getting there but even harder to stay there, that has to be our aim though.”
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