YATE TOWN manager Rob Cousins believes the Gloucestershire Senior Challenge triumph can help build a winning mentality at the club.
The Bluebells ended a difficult season that saw them finish in the bottom half of Zamaretto Division One South & West with a thrilling 3-2 win over Cheltenham Town Reserves in the final at Lodge Road last week and Cousins hopes that will act as a stepping stone to bigger and better things.
He said: “What we’ve tried to drum into them in recent months is it doesn’t matter who you play against, whether it’s a training match, whatever the level of football you’ve got to go out to win.
“It all starts with hard work, commitment and effort.
“We haven’t achieved anything yet, this is the start of what we want to achieve.”
Cousins inherited the squad from his predecessor Dave Mogg when he took over, initially as caretaker manager, in February but they have started to show signs of fulfilling their potential and he hopes to keep most of them together.
Goalkeeper Josh Dempsey and pacy striker Russ Church are both attracting interest from clubs in higher divisions, but are already under contract at the club.
Dempsey was the subject of interest from an unnamed League One club - believed to be Exeter City - in February 2010 and the Grecians are still keeping tabs on the talented youngster, who turned 23 on Tuesday.
Cousins said: “I’ve spoken to the players off the cuff to say they’re still wanted, and the majority of them are, but we can’t talk figures until I’ve spoken with the committee.
“When we have players fighting for places we are a force. We do need to add to it so some of them might have to think whether they want it enough here or move on but it should be done in the next two or three weeks.”
Cousins was pleased with the way his side responded after falling behind in the 16th minute against Cheltenham with Neikell Plummer equalising from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time before two goals inside five minutes at the start of the second half from Church and a James Fawke own goal, set them on their way.
“ We talked about shape and confidence (at half-time), taking the game to them and believing we could do it.
“In the first 20 minutes we looked very nervous and gave them too much respect but in the second half we had the momentum where we got the goal and we made the perfect start.
“It was important to get that goal just before half-time because before that we had a spell where Neikell had a shot and we almost scored from the corner. “Once we got going I think the edge was with us and it was nice to end the season with a bit of silverware to show for it.”
Cousins is yet to appoint an assistant manager but he said veteran striker Michael Meaker will be “heavily involved whether it’s as assistant or player-coach.”
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