Experience Was Key - Hopkins

Last updated : 03 March 2014 By Covsupport News Service

Coventry Sphinx Manager Luke Hopkins felt that experience was key in his side’s 1-0 win at Dunkirk on Saturday. 

“I named a very experienced team, probably the most experienced team i could from my squad taking into consideration lads that have played this level and above and professionally etc,” Hopkins said. 

“On paper, it was a team that knows how to win and that’s what we needed. We have not been on much of a good run in February so it was a chance to start March as we mean to go on, we are back to playing each week now and its starting to show.

“We were good midweek against Walsall Wood and didn’t get the result we deserved but that’s football, sometimes you play bad and win got to accept playing brilliant, but if it not your day in front of the important part the goal, nothing you can do. 

 “We started well in the first half and dominated the game with the 18 year old Jackson Downie dictating the game and creating chances, there were a few lads playing out of their normal regular position but if anything made the more alert and up for the game, all around we were brilliant, from Carlo through to the front boys everyone dug in put a shift in and got us a result. 

“It was a good piece of play that Rickie Cutting found himself one on one with the Dunkirk keeper to lob him and put us 1-0 up going into half time.

Second half we again dominated for the first twenty minutes and it was only a matter of time before the second goal came, but it never, Dunkirk had their ten minutes of pressure they were going to have as all teams do, but we were efficient and defended well, minimised the mistakes as we have wanted all season and got a result.

“We always seem to struggle going up to Nottingham to play Dunkirk, they are always an awkward team to play against, but we came away with the three points and it is one down of the nine games in March so hopefully we can pick up some more points.

“The lads have a target for the month and push us up the league back towards the top six. We’ve still got to play five of the teams above us, so even if we aren’t going to win the league we might get a little say in where it goes.

“I can’t praise the boys enough this week, we thought they were brilliant, it is hard to pick a single player out for MOM, but it is pointless doing it one week and not the next hopefully it’s the sign of strong finish to the season.

“We travel to AFC Wulfrunians again tomorrow hopefully another three points and it puts a gap between us and those teams just below us.”