Stocksbridge Park Steels manager Chris Hilton says that his players have bought into how he wants his side to play
The reason why Stocksbridge Park Steels have started like a house on fire is down to players, according to Chris Hilton.
Stocksbridge have won four, drawn two and lost one of their opening seven Evo Stik Division One South matches. After four games, the Steels were top of the table.
Their form has surprised many, but Hilton insists he knew what his squad were capable of.
“The lads have bought into what we (Hilton, assistant Ryan Laight, coach Lee Thompson and physio Shaun Handisides) want to do and they’re working hard in training,” Hilton told Non League Yorkshire.
“The players we have got want to work and want to improve.
“We want to get the ball down and pass and play football like some teams do in this league.
“Last season was all about putting the foundations down about how we want to play.
“This year was about pushing on and doing it. Now, ok, we didn’t expect in our wildest dreams that we would win four on the bounce.
“To be fair, we should have beaten Kidsgrove to make it five on the bounce. We went to Leek (their only league defeat) with one striker so we were a bit short up top.
“I thought we did enough to draw though. Then against Shaw Lane, it was a good point in my opinion.
“It has been a good start. We have picked up more points than I thought we would do, but I also knew the players we have got can play football.
“If we’re allowed to play football then we will hurt teams.”
Brad Grayson is back to play for Stocksbridge against Rugby Town tomorrow. Photo: WhiteRosePhotos.co.uk
Key striker Brad Grayson is back for the visit of Rugby Town to Bracken Moor tomorrow afternoon.
Grayson, who has been playing in the Philippines during the summer, was their star forward at the end of last season when the Steels sailed a little too close to the wind.
On a number of occasions, one goal was enough to beat them as heads drop.
Hilton agrees that the mentality has changed.
“Last season we’d have lost two or three of the games we have won this season,” he added.
“There has been three or four games where we have been a goal down so it shows that we have the belief that we can hurt teams and score goals.
“People said we struggle to score goals this season and I think we have scored 16 or 17 goals so we have got it.
“Granted we are conceding too many, but we know that area.
“With how we attack, we will open ourselves up to be attacked, but that’s how we play.
“If we can tighten up at the back then I can’t see why we can’t keep picking points up.”