Town Beginning To Shape Up
Tue 8th September 2015 | Runcorn Town | By Ian Templeman
Runcorn Town manager Simon Burton is looking for his side to maintain their recent good form.
After three defeats in their opening four games, Saturday’s victory over Litherland REMYCA in the FA Vase now means it’s just one defeat in the last five for Town, and that was against Evo-Stik league side Northwich Victoria in the FA Cup.
While Simon is now happy that his side is showing a bit of form, he explained that there have been a number of reasons behind his side’s slow start to the season.
“We freshened things up in the summer as I was disappointed with the league finish last year”, he said.
“Obviously we had a great FA Cup run, and I think that took a little bit of the attention away from our league form. Not from our point of view, but other people tended to remember that.
“For me though, the league is where it's at, we spent two or three seasons pushing for promotion and that is where we need to be”.
“Last year we did have a lot of injuries, I don't think in the previous five seasons I remember having as many injuries as we did, and hopefully this year will be better.
“We have brought in probably six or seven new faces, and when that happens it takes them a little bit of time to gel, and understand how each other play, and how we play as team.
“It is difficult to make so many changes but as manager I felt it was needed, we needed to freshen things up a bit and that is what we have done, and touch wood we are starting to find our feet”.
Aside of new faces, Simon also believes that the early fixtures presented a tougher than normal start to the campaign.
“I think we had a really tough start, I think it is probably the toughest start we have ever had since we have been in the division. The first five teams we faced were all strong opposition, although we should have taken more out of those games than we did.
“We were working hard, but we didn't take our chances and got punished.
“I hold my hands up, we were terrible on the opening day (against Nelson when Town lost 4-0). We just weren't at it at all.
“During the game we had chances at vital times where we could have taken the lead but we didn't take them, and Nelson were clinical and deserved the three points.
“Since then though, we have played some good stuff and just not had any luck, but things have started to turn since we got a 2-2 draw at Colne.
“On that day, we should probably have been two or three up, but conceded two poor goals ad didn't get the rub of the green we needed. Of course, if you had offered us a 2-2 before the game we would have taken it, so you have to focus on the positives”.
So, with momentum now picking up, Simon is now looking to keep the good run going.
“Slowly but surely, we have been starting to find our feet and thankfully starting to hit the back the net, which is good as we have been creating the chances.
“Against Litherland REMYCA (in the FA Vase on Saturday) we didn't play that well, but scored four goals, so you have to be happy that at long last the ball is hitting the back of the net. Hopefully the lads have started to click and we can push on now”.
Town Beginning To Shape Up
Tue 8th September 2015 | Runcorn Town
By Ian Templeman
Runcorn Town manager Simon Burton is looking for his side to maintain their recent good form.
After three defeats in their opening four games, Saturday’s victory over Litherland REMYCA in the FA Vase now means it’s just one defeat in the last five for Town, and that was against Evo-Stik league side Northwich Victoria in the FA Cup.
While Simon is now happy that his side is showing a bit of form, he explained that there have been a number of reasons behind his side’s slow start to the season.
“We freshened things up in the summer as I was disappointed with the league finish last year”, he said.
“Obviously we had a great FA Cup run, and I think that took a little bit of the attention away from our league form. Not from our point of view, but other people tended to remember that.
“For me though, the league is where it's at, we spent two or three seasons pushing for promotion and that is where we need to be”.
“Last year we did have a lot of injuries, I don't think in the previous five seasons I remember having as many injuries as we did, and hopefully this year will be better.
“We have brought in probably six or seven new faces, and when that happens it takes them a little bit of time to gel, and understand how each other play, and how we play as team.
“It is difficult to make so many changes but as manager I felt it was needed, we needed to freshen things up a bit and that is what we have done, and touch wood we are starting to find our feet”.
Aside of new faces, Simon also believes that the early fixtures presented a tougher than normal start to the campaign.
“I think we had a really tough start, I think it is probably the toughest start we have ever had since we have been in the division. The first five teams we faced were all strong opposition, although we should have taken more out of those games than we did.
“We were working hard, but we didn't take our chances and got punished.
“I hold my hands up, we were terrible on the opening day (against Nelson when Town lost 4-0). We just weren't at it at all.
“During the game we had chances at vital times where we could have taken the lead but we didn't take them, and Nelson were clinical and deserved the three points.
“Since then though, we have played some good stuff and just not had any luck, but things have started to turn since we got a 2-2 draw at Colne.
“On that day, we should probably have been two or three up, but conceded two poor goals ad didn't get the rub of the green we needed. Of course, if you had offered us a 2-2 before the game we would have taken it, so you have to focus on the positives”.
So, with momentum now picking up, Simon is now looking to keep the good run going.
“Slowly but surely, we have been starting to find our feet and thankfully starting to hit the back the net, which is good as we have been creating the chances.
“Against Litherland REMYCA (in the FA Vase on Saturday) we didn't play that well, but scored four goals, so you have to be happy that at long last the ball is hitting the back of the net. Hopefully the lads have started to click and we can push on now”.
