NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL: Depleted Huntingdon Town deliver a defensive masterclass to clinch a welcome win
Adam Richardson scored both Huntingdon Town goals in their win at Irchester. Picture: J BIGGS PHOTOGRAPHY - Credit: Archant
Huntingdon Town manager Jimmy Brattan praised a defensive masterclass after his side snapped their six-game losing streak in United Counties League Division One last Saturday.
Town collected a much-needed 2-1 victory at Irchester United despite fielding a depleted squad which included just 12 men and only one recognised defender.
But that player – left-back Ruben Rey – was singled out for special praise by Brattan following a triumph earned by a brace from Adam Richardson.
“We went there with 12 men because I had six players out,” said Brattan. “It was very much a makeshift team, but we viewed it as a game in which we had everything to gain and nothing to lose.
“The only actual defender we had was Ruben Rey and it was a case of putting three midfielders in the back four with him.
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“Ruben was the best player on the pitch for me. He led the defence for me throughout the 90 minutes.”
Richardson converted Ben Keating free-kicks either side of an Irchester equaliser which came shortly after the interval - and those goals proved enough to earn a second league win of Brattan’s second spell in the hotseat.
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“The panic set in for them after we scored, they changed their system and started to hit long balls, but we broke their attacks down well,” added Brattan.
“We had a five-minute storm to weather after they scored, but we composed ourselves and started to play well again.
“Going away to a side sitting 10th in the league and beating them when we’re second-bottom ourselves will definitely give the boys a lift.
“The club have told me there’s no pressure on me this year, but I still want to try to finish as close to the 12th position we had last season.
“Hopefully we can pick up a few points here and there and start to move up a couple of places.”
Town have pulled seven points clear of basement side Raunds ahead of a home clash against Harrowby this Saturday, 3pm.
