Adam Gusterson warns teams defensive approach won't work against Harleston Town
Adam Gusterson has warned teams using a defensive approach against his Harleston Town side that they will come unstuck.
The Thurlow Nunn League newcomers are enjoying a fine start to life at Step 6, with Saturday’s 3-2 comeback win against King’s Lynn Town Reserves extending their winning run to 11 games.
And after closest rivals Mulbarton Wanderers were held to a 2-2 draw at March Town United, Gusterson’s men have opened up a 10-point lead at the top of the First Division North table.
Of Harleston’s 13 wins so far this season, only four of them have been achieved by a one-goal margin, including the last three, and boss Gusterson believes teams are now setting up more defensively in a bid to thwart his free-scoring side.
“Yeah, I think so,” Gusterson replied, when asked if he has noticed a change in how teams are approaching the table toppers.
“Against King’s Lynn it was very obvious how they set up. It was like a 4-1-4-1 and Diss done exactly the same against us a couple of weeks ago.
“They put five in the middle and really stiffled us. They defended really well, but they still lost 1-0.
“Teams can set up for a 0-0, but I don’t think they’ll be able to stop us for the duration of the game.
“With the attacking threat we’ve got, we’ve always got goals in us.”
On Saturday, Harleston appeared to be heading for a first defeat since August 4, after goals from Dylan Edge and Jack Frohawk had given visiting King’s Lynn a 2-0 lead, which they took into the break.
Gusterson’s men responded after the interval, though, as half-time substitute Lawrence Cheese scored twice, before Nathan Page grabbed the winner, in what was his last appearance for the club until April next year.
“Nathan Page has moved to Australia, which is a blow for us,” the Harleston boss said. “I think he’s coming back around Easter time, so we may see him again then.
“We were 2-0 down at half-time, but it was a great second-half, to be fair.
“We played really well and deserved to win the game. They scored two good goals on the counter-attack, and in the second half we gave it a proper go, went two at the back at times, and it worked for us.”
Harleston go in search of a 12th-straight win when they entertain second-from-bottom Needham Market Reserves (18th) tomorrow (3pm), a side who will be buoyed by back-to-back wins in the last week.
“I don’t know an awful lot about them,” Gusterson said. “I know they beat Debenham, who are not a bad side. I probably would expect them to be sharp on the break.
“We’ve got no real pressure on us. We’re new to the league and didn’t expect to do as well as we’re doing.
“But we’re not stupid, we know this run we’re on will come to an end eventually.”