Harry Ottaway believes a fresh approach on the training pitch will catapult Sutton United to the upper reaches of the Blue Square South.
The striker was on target in Tuesday night’s 2-1 win over second-placed Welling United at Gander Green Lane.
Welling had lost just once in the League since the end of October, but aside from a nervous finale when the visitors halved United’s lead, Paul Doswell’s men were comfortable winners and rocketed from 20th to 13th in the table.
Such was the gulf between United and the Wings, there was even time for Sam Rents to have a penalty saved and skipper Jamie Stuart to hit the woodwork, before Craig Dundas opened the scoring with his 50th club goal.
Welling should have opened the scoring themselves in the second half when Wayne Shaw, filling in for the injured Kevin Scriven, was slow off his line and was rounded by Ross Lafayette, who has 14 goals so far this season, only for the striker to blaze over the open goal.
And while Ottaway was delighted to get his second League goal of the season, he is buzzing more about how the new-look training regime is paying dividends on matchday.
“The coaches have brought a different dynamic to the training camp over the past month or so,” the 23-year-old said.
“We concentrate a lot more on high intense pressing and keeping the ball. We took that into the game and it worked - so all credit to the management and the players.
“We are all very intense players and we like playing together. We have a good squad and a happy camp – and if we all keep working hard and the team can be rotated then we should get there.”
United have played the fewest games of anyone in the League, and were they win the games in hand, they would be in the play-offs.
Ottaway said: “Those games in hand are crucial, and we need to win them but really we have to take each one as it comes.
“If we stick to what we know and what we’re being taught by the coaches and the gaffer, and we believe in what we’re being taught, this win over Welling could really kick on to our season.”
He added: “Sam [Rents] has one of the best left pegs in the League and you can doubt yourself after a penalty miss, but you just have to bounce back and that is what we did.
“I thought we were immense and although it was nervous towards the end, everyone worked their nuts off and it was an immense feeling in the end to win.
“It is great to score, all strikers love to score, but winning is the better feeling. I am all about the team.”
United, unbeaten in three League games, host Eastbourne Borough this weekend, and Basingstoke next Tuesday.
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