Andy Marks says last Saturday’s win against leaders Holbeach United was the best since he took over at Compton Park.
And he is now challenging his players to go on and finish in the top four of the UCL Premier Division this season.
The Cooks clinched a 2-0 victory against the table-toppers last weekend, thanks to goals from striker Karl Bates and skipper Josh Urquhart.
It moved them to within four points of second place and left Marks toasting his best win in charge of the club.
“It was a great win,” said the boss, who joined from ON Chenecks in the summer of 2010. “We defended really well against a better side.
“It’s definitely my best league victory at the club. We’ve played teams like St Neots, Long Buckby and King’s Lynn and got draws but never beaten a top team.
“It shows what I said earlier in the season that we can beat anyone in this league on our day.”
Goalscorers Bates and Urquhart have been two of the stand-out performers for the Cooks this season, according to Marks.
And he feels the plan he laid out when he joined the club is finally coming to fruition.
“Josh Urquhart has been excellent,” said Marks.
“It took us a year to see the best of him after he came back from travelling and now he’s the best defender in the league by a country mile.
“Our goalkeeper James Stirling has also been class and Karl Bates has nearly a goal a game this season.
“Lewis Leslie is one of a number of younger players who have been really strong and we’ve got quality all over.
“I warned I would revamp the playing style when I came in, playing young lads and that’s what I’ve done.
“I think we’ve now got the best side in the division for the budget we work with.”
And Marks is now setting the bar high for that squad, despite the tough run of games they face, starting at Huntingdon tomorrow (Sat).
“We can get into the top four this season,” said the boss.
“I think Holbeach and St Ives will be the top two but we’re in the group and we’ve got 16 games left.
“I’m setting the lads a target of winning 10 of our last 16 games and that will see us finish in the top four.
“If we take our chances on Saturday, we will win that one.”
LONG BUCKBY
Goodwin closing in on new striker
Long Buckby boss Scott Goodwin is closing in on bringing a new striker to Station Road.
Goodwin has seen his side lose their past three UCL Premier Division games after failing to turn possession into points.
The latest reverse came at home to Boston Town last weekend as Buckby dominated the game but slipped to a 2-1 defeat.
Goodwin knows a turnaround in fortunes is needed and feels a fresh face up front can provide the solution to the Bucks’ problems.
And he said: “All over the park teams can’t touch us for passing, vision and quality, but you’ve got to put the ball in the back of the net.
“We’re missing a typical UCL forward who is in the right place at the right time but we’ve got one target who is definitely on our radar.
“If it (the signing) doesn’t happen this week hopefully it will happen next week.
“He knows where the goal is and hopefully we can come to some sort of agreement sooner rather than later. If we get him, we won’t be far off.”
But Goodwin was keen to stress that the Bucks should not be solely reliant on the acquisition of a new striker.
The Buckby boss, who takes his side to Blackstone this weekend, wants the rest of his players to start chipping in with some much-needed goals.
“It sounds like there’s a lot of pressure on one player, but there isn’t,” he said.
“We need everyone to chip in, especially the other strikers and midfielders.”
SPENCER
Stone: Oadby are the real deal
Spencer boss Ben Stone says Oadby will take some stopping in the race for the UCL Division One title.
Stone saw his side suffer a 5-1 defeat to the Leicestershire side on Tuesday night and says they are one of the best teams his men have faced.
Oadby were also 5-1 winners over AFC Rushden & Diamonds last weekend.
“They’ve got two or three very good players and no disrespect to Sileby and other teams going for the title, but from what I’ve seen Oadby have stepped up a gear.
“They’ve got Stefan Oakes in, who used to play for Leicester, and they do look the real deal to me.
On his own team’s showing, Stone said: “There are some positives to take from it, even though we lost 5-1.
“We can build on it for the league cup game at Spalding this weekend.”
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