Potters Bar Town win 1-0 at Cheshunt in Isthmian League

They didn't have it all their own way but a well-worked goal from Brandon Adams midway through the second half brought a 1-0 win, their sixth in the last eight Isthmian League fixtures, and lifted them up to fourth in the Premier Division table.

And manager Max Mitchell was pleased with what he saw.

He said: "For the first 45 minutes a lot of the statistics were in their favour, they won a lot of aerial duels and we didn't land on as many as we would have liked.

"We did have spells and passages in possession and when we calmed it down a little bit and relaxed with the ball, we were really good.

"We started to develop a few patterns in the first half but not enough.

"Second half we told them to calm down, we were jumping in, losing our heads a little bit and picking up some silly bookings.

"And our controlled aggression was excellent at times and look at the goal, the passage of play.

"It goes into the two centre-halves and back out to the other side. That goal was excellent and we know we've got that in us in possession.

"Nana Kyei came on and changed the game. He gave us a little bit of a release when the game was stretched and he was a threat.

"That just shows the strength in depth we've got."

Goals have important in the recent run too and here that strength in depth really shines through.

Mitchell said: "When you got the likes of Brandon Adams and Steve Cawley in your squad, you know that in those tough moments, when you're probably not at your best, we can still score goals.

"The first half wasn't great but we knew we had players on the pitch that could impact the game.

"Stevie's now got 11 goals, Brandon has got [three in three], we have lots of options and the attitude was spot on."

Rickie Hayles helped the Scholars to a clean sheet. Picture: MANDY DAVIES (Image: Mandy Davies) While the win was important, the clean sheet was the big shining positive for the Scholars.

"We had to deal with a direct approach and a direct threat and out back four were [brilliant]," said the boss.

"I want to mention Rickie [Hayles] and Ronnie [Henry]. They have come together and we should enjoy them while they are here.

"They won't have long left, one or two years for sure, but you don't get those types of people or those centre-halves too often.

"I think they are a dying breed but I'm learning lots of both of them."

The victory was another step on the redemption arc at the club, the recovery from the 8-0 loss at home to Dover Athletic on the opening day of the season.

And while the boss is not getting carried away with the run of form, he does acknowledge the mental strength it has taken to get them where they are now.

Mitchell said: "In a way I'm glad it happened as it reaffirmed a few things for me.

"We knew we'd get a response from the players and we've pushed on.

"It's still early days but we did say to the group, we wanted to look up.

"We've got a game in hand on two and three around us and Billericay Town and Lewes drew with each other.

"We'll go back to the training ground and reassess, we've probably got one or two knocks as per usual, and we'll train hard for a tough away game at Chatham."