BARNOLDSWICK Town joint-manager Ben Hall insists his side can’t endure any distractions as they look to bounce back in 2013.
Hall, alongside his managerial team of Stewart Airdrie and Kevin Richardson, saw the club suffer three successive defeats as the curtain came down on 2012 which saw Town enter the New Year in ninth position in the NWC Premier Division table.
Now Hall wants his players to concentrate on performance levels and results rather than taking their foot off the pedal by focussing on the league table.
“I don’t real know what the target is just yet,” he said.
“The league table isn’t a concern at the moment because we need to focus on ourselves and get back to winning ways as quickly as we can.
“We need to try and enjoy our football and hopefully we can put a bit of a run together.
“It’s just a case of knuckling down for us now.”
Town lost 2-1 to Congleton Town and 3-1 against AFC Emley in the third round of the FA Carslberg Vase in December, but it was the Boxing Day defeat to rivals Padiham that hurt Hall the most.
“It was disappointing, a bad way to end 2012,” he conceded.
“I don’t think an 18-day lay off helped us much plus we’d been training indoors because of the weather.
“That’s not ideal preparation for a derby game like that at all.
“We gave two bad goals away early on and then we were chasing the game.
“We just have to move on from that now.”
Hall has wasted no time in delving in to the transfer market in the hope of bringing success back to the Silentnight Stadium.
Clitheroe skipper Ollie Devenney (pictured) has joined the ranks, while Silsden wing back Andy Lee and Padiham’s Martin Broderick have also signed.
“We’ve brought three players in already,” Hall said.
“Andy will add balance because he’s left-footed and we’ve struggled a bit since losing Shaun Clough to injury.
“I’m hoping Ollie will get us playing in midfield because Robbie Smith and Spencer Jordan, who haven’t kicked a ball for us all season, are two of the best players in the league.
“We’ve probably lost about 40 goals with their absence.
“Martin is a bit different to what we’ve got - he likes a tackle and he’s aggressive and he’ll provide the bite we need.
“I think they’ll all add something.”
Town endured further frustration when their fixture against Silsden was postponed, but Hall is excited about the return to action as his side travel to Lambeth Grove to face Stockport Sports tomorrow.
“We’ve got to go there and try to win the game and we are looking forward to doing that,” Hall declared.
“We had a training game at the weekend and we’ve trained during the week so fitness levels should be back up there.
“They play on a 3G surface which should suit us because we’ve got good footballers who can play.
“We will have to be at our best to win.”