Boss has no complacency concerns
Adam Gusterson is confident complacency will not become an issue for his high-flying Harleston Town side.
The newly-promoted outfit lost their Thurlow Nunn League First Division North season-opener at the hands of Swaffham Town, but since then have strung together nine wins and a draw.
Such form has seen them open up a five-point lead at the summit, while their return of 38 goals can only be bettered by just three Step 6 sides across the entire country.
However, having been forced to keep their feet on the ground throughout the entirety of last season’s successful Hadley & Ottaway Anglian Combination Premier Division title quest, Gusterson does not envisage his men taking their eye off the ball.
“In other situations complacency might be an issue, but we had the pressure of needing to win every week last season,” he said.
“We know that if we take our foot of the gas, we will get beat. We are not good enough to take things for granted at this level.
“In the two games we have been below par against Swaffham and Sudbury Reserves, we have lost and drawn.
“That shows how dangerous it can be to let things slip, and to be fair to the players, they know what is required to win games at this level.”
Harleston will now take a break from their league exertions, with back-to-back cup encounters up next.
Tomorrow they travel to Anglian Combination Division One side Thetford Rovers in the second round of the Norfolk Senior Cup (2.30pm), while on Tuesday they head to Ipswich Wanderers as the First Division Knockout Cup gets under way (7.45pm).
Gusterson is keen to win both ties, although he does admit that after his side’s impressive start to the league campaign, one competition carries more weight than the other.
“The Norfolk Senior Cup means a lot to us and it is a competition we want to do well in,” he said.
“There is a nice carrot at the end of it with the final being at Carrow Road and it is great to pit yourselves against the top teams in the county.
“The Knockout Cup is not as much of a priority, although that would have been different if we had not started so well.
“We will go there to try to win the game of course, but it looks as though we are going to have a good season in the league, so it is not the be all and end all.”
Gusterson’s men go into the clashes on the back of a 6-2 home victory over Cornard United on Saturday.
Nathan Stone and Kyle Baker helped themselves to brace, with further goals coming courtesy of a Cornard player and full-back Jake Imrie.
Matt Howard and Olly Willis will miss the weekend’s encounter against Rovers, but Connor Delaney is available for selection after missing the Cornard game.
