Quiet determination earned Trophy success

IT might have been the hangover from Saturday's defeat that our pre-LDV Vans Trophy match build-up was a little muted.

But, to be honest, I think it was more down to a quiet determination to put things right that we just got our heads down and got on with the job.

It's not very often you get to play on grounds like Valley Parade but, when you do, you've just got to try to enjoy it. And I think everybody managed to do that last night. It was fantastic!

I don't know what it was like to watch but it was a really enjoyable game to play in.

We got the ball down and passed it, had a really good, controlled performance right throughout the team, and I thought we deserved the win.

Valley Parade is an imposing stadium, but there weren't really any butterflies last night. Not even when we pulled up to the ground.

It wasn't like the FA Cup games that we had last season - not that we under-value this competition.

I just think we were looking forward to the game and, really, there wasn't any pressure on us. And perhaps the experiences we had in the FA Cup helped calm any nerves.

I thought everyone was looking forward to playing, everyone was enthusiastic and there were a lot of good things to come out of last night's game.

Most significantly, it gives us confidence going into Saturday's trip to Farnborough because that's a must-win game.

On paper, we would be expected to do just that. But, on paper, we should have beaten Northwich and beaten Leigh comfortably. Sometimes these things just don't happen. What is important is guarding against complacency. But we'll be well prepared with going down tomorrow.

Hopefully we'll learn from last season's game, when we drew, and pick up three points on Saturday.

If we are successful at Farnborough, that will really set us up for two home games, with the second one on the television to look forward to.

If we can pick up six points from the two home games as well, I'm sure we'll be there, or thereabouts, at the top of the league.

It would be nice for me to get a goal as well because they're all coming up on my heels now, so I could do with one.

I'm not unduly worried though. The other parts of my game are okay so I'm sure I'll get a stuffy goal somewhere along the line.