Winning run has given us so much confidence says Evans

MAINTAINING momentum from their 'performance of the season' will be the challenge Shortwood United boss John Evans gives his players before facing Didcot tonight.

At their very best in Saturday's 3-1 thumping of previously in-form Abingdon United, Evans heaped praise on his side for making it three wins in a row.

A scrappy win at county rivals Cinderford was followed by successive home victories against Evesham United and then Abingdon.

That form has helped propel the Southern League newcomers into a solid mid-table position ahead of a tricky run of away fixtures.

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But a bullish Evans is hopeful that his side's new-found confidence will help see them through their trip to the Loop Meadow Stadium tonight (7.45pm).

"Saturday was the best we have played this season and in the first half especially we were awesome," Evans said.

"Luke Gullick scored a terrific goal and we perhaps got a bit lucky with a penalty which looked ball to hand, but we more than warranted our three-goal lead.

"Abingdon improved in the second half but we held firm and they didn't really have a shot on goal in the entire game.

"The performances have got better in each game in this run. We were perhaps a bit fortunate against Cinderford, did well against Evesham and then peaked against Abingdon.

"I couldn't fault Saturday's performance and every player was on their game, but now it's important to keep that momentum.

"We have three away games now but we're going away with a bit of confidence now."

Evans reserved special praise for two-goal hero Gullick for his performance, not just in the Abingdon win but in Wood's recent winning run.

The summer signing started out playing in midfield, but injuries have forced him to move up front, and he has excelled.

"Luke has been tremendous," Evans said. "He's a good footballer and we were playing him in different positions to start with.

"But we pushed him up front and he's rewarded us with some terrific performances at a time when we've been a little thin on the ground.

"Kevin Slack is still suffering from his niggle and is a little way off and we're still looking to add a striker to the squad in the near future."

Didcot go into the game on the back of a 4-1 weekend thumping at the hands of Bishop's Cleeve, the latest defeat in a six-game winless run.

But Evans knows his side will have to maintain their Abingdon form to get a result against the Railwaymen.

"I had a look at the Didcot teamsheet from the Cleeve game and they've got some quality players and they'll be dangerous having been beaten," he said.

"We know we will have to be at our best, because if you ease off even slightly in this league you will get punished."