The answers were blowing in the wind, says Sharman

‘Firstly, a really great result backing up the one point at Ascot last week,’ said GFC coach Steve Sharman.

‘So four points out of six, and we chunk games together, we would have taken that.

‘That was an aim and a target for us, so now we move on to the next one.’

All the goals came inside the opening 20 minutes as a Sam Murray brace and a Matt Loaring strike gave the home side three valuable points against a side who were reduced to 10 men shortly before half-time when Danny Dudley was sent off.

Ross Allen missed the penalty that resulted from that incident, but that had no bearing on the outcome as GFC managed the game expertly in the second half.

‘I thought the performance was built on incredible hard work in the first half,’ Sharman said.

‘We decided to play against the wind – we wanted to play a high press against the wind, knowing we’d have the wind in the second half. I think we play better against the wind anyway, because it allows us to build up play, and doesn’t mean that we’ll go so long.

‘So it was built on really, really hard work, organised as a group and we’ve been working on a press, a high press as well. So, yeah, really pleased.’

Sharman could even afford himself a chuckle when asked if he felt comfortable at half-time considering GFC gave up a three-goal lead at Ascot a week earlier.

‘We’ve been around long enough to know this is GFC, and the fact they had 10 men, and the fact Ross missed another penalty, so 3-0 up with the wind against 10 men, what did I think?

‘We really got our group up to say we need to press, press, press. They led the charge. They led the communication in the changing room and made sure that they were up for the game. And of course, sometimes it’s difficult, but I think I still think we left three or four goals out there, definitely in the second half and a couple in the first half.

‘We were the better side when they had 11 men.’