Football: We're best – and we'll win league!
AFC Sudbury boss Mark Morsley is convinced his side's gathering momentum will ensure they are crowned league champions.
A dramatic injury-time winner from Darren Bethell (pictured) on Saturday slashed the gap between his side and leaders Dartford to three points.
Bethell's 30-yard screamer at Canvey Island, combined with Dartford's draw at Bury Town, means the race for the Ryman Division One North title is in the melting pot.
AFC are now unbeaten since the turn of the year and sit three points behind the Darts with a game in hand.
The Kent side possess a slightly superior goal difference.
Morsley's men face another tough test at third-placed Ware this Saturday but the AFC manager believes the pressure is on Dartford.
"I think Dartford are looking at us with a bit more concern than they were a month ago," he said.
"This has been a really, really tough month and Saturday will be another real test but I am confident we will come through it. I believe we are the best side in the league and I believe we will win the league."
Morsley admits to having studied the run-ins of the teams around AFC now that they are "at the business end of the season".
And though admitting April will be a tougher month for his side than Dartford, Morsley says his team are ready for one last push. You can't not look at other teams around you," he said. "At the end of the day, every team in the top eight has pressure because we are at the business end of the season when points win prizes.
"That is how it is at this stage of the season and the key is to keep the players relaxed and enjoying their football.
"I think we have done enough to secure a play-off position and now we have to kick on and build on that.
"I think March has been a tough month for all teams but April is a tougher month for us than it is for Dartford. But I do believe we are going to win this league, I have always believed it but I think we will have to go right down to the last Saturday in April to guarantee that.
"It will go right to the wire."
Saturday's 1-0 win at Canvey Island in blustery conditions looked destined to end in a goalless draw until Bethell's last-gasp winner, his first goal since he returned to the club following a brief spell at Wivenhoe Town.
"Football's a funny old game," Morsley said. "There were those who thought I was crazy bringing Beths back and those who like the lad and thought it was a good idea, and it was quite nice to see him score the winner.
"It was a bullet of a shot. I don't know how far out it was and I don't really care, it gave us three points.
"It was a difficult game and the wind really spoiled it but I thought in the last 10 minutes they thought a point was good enough and we wanted to go on and win it. We drew too many games last season.
"And one of the things we addressed at the start of the season was if we have the chance to win a game rather than draw it then we should go for it – and that has paid off."
One downside to Saturday's victory was an injury to Matty Clements.
The winger could be ruled out for up to a month with ligament damage.
He will miss Saturday's game, as will Dean Neil.
Goalkeeper Neil is serving the final game of a five-match suspension.
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Weather for Sudbury
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
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Sunny spells
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