Steve Kittrick: The enjoyment has returned to our football

In the short time I’ve been here that is what we have been trying to instill in the players.

We have to remember that these are lads who work all week, so, despite the fact that they get paid, this is their spare time.

They now want to train and want to play on a Saturday, which is what you want.

We now have some strength across the park as well and competition for places, which is very healthy.

The lads know that they can’t just turn up on a Saturday and play football.

There is always somebody breathing down their necks for that place in the side.

Another good thing is the fact that we have versatility in the squad.

You only have to look at Dean Lisles, who stepped in on Tuesday and was outstanding in the middle of the midfield.

Paul Robson has been playing at left-back, despite the fact that he’s a right-back.

Nathan Peat is another example, but we have had to be careful with him in recent weeks because he has been struggling with a hernia problem.

Nathan has been a big influence in what we have been doing at the club.

In the tough away games, he is one of the lads that has really dug in and performed for us.

That is what we need from everyone.

After the joy of Tuesday night’s cup win against Ilkeston, we now move into Saturday’s home league game against Ossett Town.

It is obviously great to get to a final, but now we are focusing on those three points again.

We went five games unbeaten and then lost out to a late penalty on Saturday.

The sign of a good team is one that bounces back, and that is exactly what we did against Ilkeston.

Just because we have moved away from trouble doesn’t mean that we take our eye off the ball. We want to win games and we need those points to make us secure.

Ossett are another side who are fighting for the points as well.

Grant Black has come in and made them a harder side to beat.

It will be another tough game, but one we are going out to win.