Newmarket Town manager Michael Shinn keen for win over Soham Town Rangers to spur team on
Player-manager Michael Shinn is hoping his side can use their first Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division victory of the season as a ‘springboard’ to more consistent form.
The Jockeys started the new campaign picking up just one point from the first nine available following Saturday’s 4-3 home defeat to early leaders Harleston Town.
However, they rallied from being a goal down at the break on Tuesday evening to beat near neighbours Soham Town Rangers 2-1 at the Tristel Stadium.
It was a much improved second-half showing from Shinn’s side, one which saw them show a greater desire to win back possession and be first to second balls.
And it is that type of ‘aggression’ that the manager is eager to see more of in the coming weeks.
“In the first half rather than worry about the source we were worrying about players in other positions, players stood out wide and we felt we needed to get out there,” he said.
“I just said to the lads that they needed to stop the supply, get bodies around the ball and get it back – then we can look to open them up.
“Soham started really well, but we regrouped. It would have been easy to crumble.
“It’s been a really tough period. We’ve had limited availability, injuries and some silly suspensions and it’s been real tough.
“The group is growing. We actually had quite a big of turnaround of players in the summer and I feel like the group is getting stronger.
“Hopefully we can use this as a springboard. Performances have been okay but we were one point from three in the league.
“It was important to get a win tonight and now we can try to follow that up because we’ve got a lot of Saturday/Tuesdays coming.
“I know this bunch are a really good bunch. They’re good footballers, good people but sometimes they need to be a little more aggressive when we cross over the white line.
“I’m not talking aggressive as in fighting people, I’m talking about pressing and getting people’s heads down, which is what we did do in the second half. We pressed real high, we stopped them playing out and stopped the supply into their number nine (Luke Brown) and we went on to win the game.”
One player that particularly stood out on the night for Newmarket was Isaac Maynard, who was making his debut after joining on dual registration from higher-league Cambridge City.
And Shinn is hopeful it is a deal that can work out for all parties.
“He needs minutes and we’ve got lots of Saturday/Tuesdays so it works,” he said. “With Joe Bennett getting injured it gives us more legs in there.
“I want to help him get back to Cambridge City, help him get fit, get a bit of belief and get some good performances in.
“Then he can go back to Cambridge City, we can see his name getting man of the match, scoring goals and stuff like that.”