WHISPER it quietly but we might just be finding our mojo again. After the positive performance and result at Chorley, there was a danger following a week off due to a soggy pitch at Blackwell Meadows that we might have gone back into our three-month shell and suffered for it at Boston United. Instead, we saw the battle, organisation and re-found resolution of Chorley and that proved to be enough to get us over the line for three points.

The performance at Boston was certainly not the finished article, but there were a number of positives to take away and build on. During the three months since we won against this Saturday’s opponents, Harrogate Town, it’s felt as though we have got certain parts of our game right but never quite all at the same time, either leading to goals being conceded or chances not being taken. On Saturday, we took our chances – in David Syers’ case, spectacularly well – but what was even more positive was the resolute and organised manner we kept our hosts at bay as they cranked up the pressure in the second half.

The clean sheet would have been nice but having gained a two-goal advantage in the first half, the big positive was being able to hold on to the lead right up to the full-time whistle. While hard work during the week is clearly paying off, there some noticeable factors working in our favour. We have a new goalkeeper not burdened by a catastrophic lack of confidence. I know the defenders will never admit to it but it must surely give them a boost knowing the ’keeper can and will take charge of the high balls into the box. Meanwhile, the change in fullbacks seems to have worked a treat. Obviously, David Ferguson’s inclusion was more by design than Josh Falkingham’s, but they have both added something extra to the defensive unit. Whilst Liam Marrs is out injured, I hope we persevere with Falkingham at right back as he looks tailor-made for the position.

Going forward, the midfield and attack appear to be comfortably transitioning to the 4-3-3 formation that I’ve been hoping to see for some time now. There’s still plenty of work to be done but I believe this approach will work out in our favour in the long term.

I keep harking back to the away game at Harrogate but I’m hopeful that this Saturday’s return fixture can create some symmetry in our season. The game at Wetherby Road at the end of October signalled the end of a really good run of fixtures that worked in our favour. Hopefully, Saturday’s game will be part of equally positive string results with the fixture computer having laid up a run of games that will have Martin Gray salivating at the possibilities. If we end the season like we started it, then the playoffs are well within our grasp.

Finally, given we’re all seasoned non-league football fans now – nearly seven years for those counting – the events of Monday night at Sutton United disappoint me deeply. Why? Well, when I heard the phrase ‘piegate’, I thought someone had stumbled across my biggest beef with the higher echelons on the non-league pyramid – the pies. If they’re available at all, they’re usually atrocious; don’t get me started on Pukka Pies. Down in the depths of the Northern League and the NPL, the pies were fabulous. I’m thinking of the pie and peas at Clitheroe as I type. In the National North, with the notable exceptions of Bradford Park Avenue and Chorley, the pie offerings are either non-existent or simply ill-conceived. It’s just not football without a proper pie and peas.