Matt Jansen column

We travelled down to Warwickshire on Saturday to tackle an in-form Nuneaton Town side, and came away with a single point, following a 1-1 draw.

It was a hard- earned point in difficult conditions. The wind was against us in the first half and it was a lively pitch and you also have to remember Nuneaton are a full-time side.

I felt we were the better side on the day. Yes, they caused us some problems but we dealt with it well and took the lead through a well-worked goal in the first half.

The build-up play down the right-hand side was superb and Dale Whitham put in a peach of cross to find Josh Wilson, who headed it brilliantly into the net.

Josh has done great for us since joining from Telford at the start of the season.

We’ve played him everywhere on the pitch, as he’s such a versatile player – we’ve played him in holding midfield, central midfield, in the hole and up front as well – he’s a great talent.

The goal came with just four minutes of the first half remaining, which looking back now I think proved a 
little detrimental to the side.

Nuneaton came out in the second half with increased urgency and it was backs against the wall for us for some of it.

We dealt with it well, but they eventually got their equaliser with minutes to go, which was frustrating as the ball was launched into the box and it happened to fall for Nuneaton’s Ashley Chambers who fired in a rebound.

Overall, given Nuneaton’s form and the difficult conditions we had to face during the match, I was pleased with what we saw out there in the build up to what is a hectic, but key period of matches coming up.

We travel to the Lancashire FA headquarters in 
Leyland on Wednesday night for the semi-final of our Lancashire Trophy match against Lancaster City.

We’re taking the competition seriously and want to win the game, but it’ll be a good opportunity to give the likes of Lee Molyneux and Steven Rigg game-time, as that is what they need to build their match fitness levels up. The winner of the tie will face Clitheroe at Bolton Wanderers’ Macron Stadium in the final, and that’s somewhere we really want to get to.

In March we’ve got some crucial league matches which could potentially define our season. We face Stockport County and Spennymoor Town within days of each other at the Chorley Group Victory Park Stadium next week – both sides who are in and around the same position as us.

We’re also set to play Leamington, Brackley Town, Boston United and York City in March, so it’s going to be a busy schedule in the run-in.

We’ve got 11 league matches between now and the end of the campaign and we need your support now more than ever to back us all the way and hopefully reach those pivotal play-offs.