Who said Magpies Havant a chance? (16.02.06)

With a new team gelling together well, confidence flowing through the squad and fans, and a head of steam being built up at home, the Magpies are building a platform from which to launch themselves out of the drop zone as the season reaches its business end.
Proof of this was how the Magpies made it four matches without defeat at York Road when they dismantled third-placed Havant on Saturday with a performance which will have surprised many, but not boss Carl Taylor.
He said: “On Thursday we had an intense match situation in training and worked hard on what we were going to do in the final third.
“We worked on doing things quickly and getting at their defence. It worked well.
“I think we surprised them with our energy. I don’t know whether they underestimated us?
“They might have seen the 4-0 defeat at Weymouth and thought we were the same old team, but they were wrong.”
Taylor added: “It was a key win for us. I told the guys beforehand that if we lost and the other results went against us, we could be adrift at the bottom.
“They responded well. I’m getting a lot out of the players at the moment.
“They are mostly a new set of lads, who are eager to play.
“We told the players that it was now a 15-game season and our aim was to win seven or eight of those, starting with Havant.
“Now it’s game on.”
With Eastbourne Borough and Hayes, both on the fringes of the relegation zone, facing each other tomorrow (Saturday), Taylor believes good results against Eastleigh tomorrow and Bishop’s Stortford on Tuesday, could see the momentum shift in the Nationwide Conference South.
He also now expects his team to go from strength to strength, saying: “We are a big strong team now and very confident especially at home.
“But we do need to take the confidence into our away matches.
“Eastleigh, for example, are no stronger than us now, and it is a winable match.
“They have two quick strong forwards who can score goals but I know we can deal with them.
“If we play like we did in the first half at both Cambridge and Weymouth, I think we’ll do well.
“Then we have Stortford at home. Back-to-back wins will get us on a roll and move us out of the relegation zone.”
He concluded: “We have a greatly changed team from three weeks ago and it has taken a while to gel, but the confidence there now. In fact, I thought it would take us a bit longer to reach the next level but we are almost there now.”
More good news for Taylor is that he has a fully fit squad from which to choose, and one which is growing in confidence.
Taylor said “With a full squad available, it is now looking awesome, with players competing for places in all positions.
“Dean Bradshaw for example hasn’t always made it into the team, but is an excellent player.
“He was key against Havant and has made it very difficult for me to drop him.
“I’ve got some difficult selection decisions to make, but it bodes well for the future.
“Trust me, anyone I bring in now will have to be special to get a look-in.
“Given our confidence levels, I don’t expect us to turn in poor performances now.”