Tandragee Rovers boss Simon Brown has thrown down a challenge for his players to deliver back-to-back league wins for the first time this season when they face Laurelvale this weekend.
The Madden Road outfit earned a spirited 2-1 victory over Richhill on Saturday to boost their survival hopes in Intermediate A.
Goals from Davy Houston and Brian Topley either side of an Aaron Black equaliser dragged Tandragee to three crucial points.
Brown now wants his players to “back it up” with another win this weekend against fellow relegation scrappers Laurelvale.
He told Match on Tuesday: “We haven’t won back-to-back league games this season, so now would be a good time to do it.
“We have a run of fixtures now where we have to get back-to-back wins.
“If we can do it then that will be a big boost. You can beat Richhill, but it will mean nothing if we don’t back it up against Laurelvale.
“It is a tough league, and Saturday’s results highlight that. It is a learning curve for all of us, myself included.
“We just need to get our own house in order, and if we show what we did on Saturday then I will be delighted.”
Tandragee showed spirit in Saturday’s win over Richhill.
They led through Houston’s early goal but were pegged back through a deflected effort from Black.
The win was sealed from the penalty spot with Topley earning Brown’s men their win.
“I think on the balance of play we deserved it,” Brown added.
“Marty (Rice, Richhill manager) set his team up very well and they were physical. But we managed it well.
“We took the lead with an early goal, then they equalised through a wicked deflection and both teams had chances. But we managed to get the win through a penalty late in the game.
“It was nice. They played us earlier in the season and they won it with a last-minute penalty. So it was nice to get one back, so to speak. I wouldn’t use the word revenge but there was a bit more motivation for the boys this time as they felt hard done by last time out.
“It was a good win and we need to kick on.
“We have had multiple one-goal games. It is not about the ability of my squad, but you could argue that sometimes the spirit has been missing. Spirit like we saw on Saturday.
“It is easy to put your head down when things don’t go your way in this league, but their attitude and character was superb on Saturday and they earned their reward.
“That’s what probably got us over the line, and it’s something that has maybe been missing the past few weeks.”
Brown (far right) accepts Tandragee are firmly wedged in a relegation battle this season.
They sit three points above this weekend’s opponents Laurelvale, a side who sit second from bottom in Intermediate A.
“We know where we are. We had a frank chat before Saturday’s game and outlined the position we are in,” he added.
“We see the ability, but we have to prove it now because we are in a relegation battle.
“If we go and put together a series of two or three wins then we can climb away from the relegation zone.
“What other people would consider my strongest team, I haven’t been close to putting it out yet due to injuries. And it’s February. We had a strong team out against Bourneview, and won away from home. So we know what a fully fit squad can do.
“It is getting that consistency, and the players need to learn in this league. You can’t float in and out of games. You need to be on it, and that comes with experience.
“We have Laurelvale, then Fivemiletown and St Mary’s after that.
“If you can get three positive results then we could possibly start climbing away from the bottom of the table.”
