QUENTIN TOWNSEND hopes a fixture-free fortnight will allow Pershore Town to recharge the batteries for a top ten challenge in the final months of the season.
The Town manager admits Pershore would have loved to be back in action on Saturday after their three-match winning sequence was ended by fourth placed Lichfield City on Saturday.
A late goal gave Lichfield a 1-0 win in Midland League Division One at the 2020SolarPV Stadium but the Pershore players’ disappointment in the dressing room afterwards showed just how far they have come in the past few months, according to Townsend.
However, they have to wait until next Saturday to play Heath Hayes at home and they head to Studley the following Tuesday before an Easter double-header against Hinckley AFC and championship contenders Bromsgrove Sporting.
“No footballer likes to have a Saturday off,” said Townsend. “But the break might do us good.
“We’ve had a lot of games in the past few weeks and some players have been carrying knocks. The rest will do them good and allow us time to catch our breath.
“I think we have shown in the last few weeks we’re heading in the right direction. Last Saturday was a case in point.
“The players afterwards in the dressing room were really gutted not to have got at least a point from one of the top clubs in the league.
“On reflection, we didn’t do enough to win, Lichfield were the better team but we had a good chance when Steve Roche got through but went just wide. We ran them a lot closer than we would have a few months ago.
“I was proud of how we dealt with a team in the top four and how we showed plenty of resilience and how we defended.”
Townsend had considered bolstering his squad with a couple of signings as the transfer deadline looms at the end of the month, but he suggested any tinkering with the squad will now wait until the summer.
“I’ve been pleased with how the squad has developed in such a positive way,” said the boss.
“Of course, you always look to improve and that’s something we will look at in the summer. I’ll sit down with the chairman as the season comes to an end and we will both set out what we expect and hope for next season and see how we can make it happen.”