The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Bullish boss Seb Hayes has told his Holbeach United players that Saturday’s emphatic 9-0 win over Harrowby United will mean nothing if they crash at Oadby Town this weekend.
The Tigers snapped their five-game losing streak in impressive style at Carter’s Park, but Hayes is keen to see if they can replicate that performance at 17th-placed Oadby on Saturday (3pm).
Hayes insists that few ChromaSport UCL Premier Division sides would have been able to cope with his team in their last outing – and does believe that they are slowly beginning the resemble the kind of traditional Holbeach side he craves.
And, with skipper Jamie Stevens and talented midfielder Dan Dougill set to return to the squad at Wigston Road, he sees no reason why the Tigers can’t make it back-to-back wins.
“If we don’t do something similar last weekend the 9-0 will count for nothing,” said the former Peterborough Northern Star chief. “I’m hoping for and expecting the same kind of performance.
“I want to see that same confidence and positivity in our play at Oadby.
“Of course, I’m not expecting another 9-0. Oadby is always a tough place to go, regardless of where they are in the table.
“If we can replicate what we did on Saturday, we can beat anybody. Few teams could have lived with us to be honest.
“To be fair, if you look at our league form it’s not as bad as it may appear. In the six games I’ve been here, we’ve won three and lost three.
“Those three defeats were to in-form teams and the only game I’m really disappointed with in the league is the Desborough defeat (4-0 loss).
“Saturday certainly gave us something to build on, but at the moment it’s just one good performance.
“We do have Jamie Stevens and Dan Dougill back, which is a big boost. Add them to the new signings we’ve made and the squad looks very strong – we’ve almost got an embarrassment of riches this weekend.
“For me, that’s huge. When I came here we had no options and I had to take it easy on the lads, knowing I had no competition for places.
“Now they’ve got to fight for their shirts and have to impress me if they want to play.
“The aim is to move forward as a club and get back to being a proper Holbeach team. I saw signs of that on Saturday and, if we carry on, we’ll finish the season well.”
Hayes pulled off something of a surprise coup on the Friday before the Harrowby win, landing former UCL Premier Division title winner Mitch Griffiths on loan from Spalding United.
The Tigers have taken his UCL registration from Sleaford Town – and Hayes wants him to stay at the club long-term.
Versatile winger Griffiths has fallen down the pecking order with the Tulips and now faces a direct choice between the South Holland rivals when it comes to his future beyond the initial loan.
He added: “We’ll have to see what happens. I’ve told Mitch that we really want him to be a long-term fixture for us.
“It’s up to me to give him football and show him that he’s wanted here. He’s in my long-term plans but only he can decide his future.”
