A run of four straight Southern League defeats came to an end for Stotfold with a midweek success at home to Hertford Town.

Matt Ball got the only goal of the 1-0 win, pouncing after 15 minutes to drag the Eagles up to 16th in the Division One Central standings.

And while winning was everything, manager Paul Donnelly believes they are coming into a run of fixtures that could bag them yet more points.

"We knew how important this game was," he said.

"Hertford are a side that we think we should be beating and we just had to outwork them. My boys done that.

"We did identify this one but to be fair, the two games before this, we thought we could get something. 

"It seems like we only play the teams that are going well and that's how it's been so far. 

"We didn’t make it easy. We’d got into good areas but while it's 1-0, you always give teams a chance and [it’s nervous] when it's like that, balls coming into the box.

"But luckily, we did defend it well and held on so I’m well pleased.

"Hopefully now, we've got a run of games that we can get some points on the board."

This year is a far cry from last where a late charge carried them up to seventh and placed a huge amount of hope and belief at the club.

They didn't have a great summer as some of the players made the move up a level but the boss still believes in the squad he has, even if he has been "really frustrated".

He said: "At the end of last season, I expected us to be better this year but it's been tough. 

"It’s been tough recruiting, losing the players we did lose. They're tough to replace and in fairness, we have played a lot of the top sides - played Berko twice played Real Bedford, Flackwell Heath. 

"They're right up there so we’ve had a tough start but hopefully, like I say, we can kick on now. 

"We’re looking at Leighton Town [on Saturday] as one where we can certainly go and get a point there.

"We've played already over there in the FA Trophy, drew 0-0 and had the better chances that day in the first half." 

But Donnelly also admits that the run of defeats was tough, and laughed off the current vogue remark from footballers and managers of 'never too high when you win. never too low when you lose'.

"No, it's a massive cliche," he said with a chuckle. "You can't, it’s impossible. When you lose, it kills you and when you win, you think you're top of the world.

"It's tough, it is tough, especially when you're on a little run of losing games like we were, it's hard to keep the boys believing.  

"But like I say, you look at the games you've played and you just let them know that you've had some tough games, and now we're here where we are."