Mark Anderson has revealed that Moors staff and players are absolutely focused on getting back to their best as they look to build on an encouraging first half of the 2023/24 campaign.
Moors have been among the front-runners for the majority of the season and Anderson has insisted that they are approaching the potentially crucial Christmas period in high spirits.
Lewis Dickman’s men have suffered some disappointing results in recent weeks, but the midfield man is adamant they can get back on track when they return to action after two blank weekends.
“I think we’ve started the season well,” Anderson told us.
“We’ve won games and lost games but we’re still sitting in a strong position in the table and we’re 10 points in front of where we were at this point last year so that’s progression and that’s what we were looking for.
“We made no secret of the fact that we wanted to challenge for the play-offs when we came back in this season – I think we’re happy with how it’s gone in general so far, but we know we could have done better in some games.
“We’re around where we want to be though, and the boys can all be pleased with their efforts to date and now we need to really kick on and try to get higher in the table.
“If we keep doing what we do, we will back ourselves to do that so the bottom line is that we’re happy with what’s gone on so far, but we know we can keep improving and that’s what we will all work towards.”
Anderson has shrugged off criticism of recent form and prefers instead to focus on the many positives that there are to take from the first half of the campaign.
“We’ve been in and around 2nd to 5th or 6th all season and that’s earned.
“If we’re up there like that then we deserve to be at this stage of a season and there are 19 teams who have been worse than us.
“We’ll take that and probably try to keep things in perspective over the course of the whole season, and now we have to kick-on to try and turn these draws and defeats into victories.
“We have to get back to winning ways and December is always a big month in this division so it’s a good chance to pick up points to build on where we are and stay in the position we’ve worked hard to get to, and hopefully we can reflect on doing that by New Year’s Day.”
Anderson has worked hard to recover from a nasty injury suffered against Blyth Spartans at the end of August and win back his place in the starting eleven.
And the 34-year-old is now keen to play his part as Moors look to return to their best during the festive season and into the New Year.
“I feel good, and I feel fit.
“It takes a couple of games to get your legs back after a bad injury because I was out for eight or nine weeks.
“When it first happens, you can’t see that light at the end of the tunnel, but I stuck to my rehab and then hope you can get back with no issues.
“Everything has gone to plan on that front, and I feel really good right now, so I just have to try and keep doing the right things to help the team turn things around.
“If we keep doing the right things, we’ll get the little bit of luck we need to really kick on now.”
