Zamaretto Southern League

South & West Division

Gosport Borough 1

Cinderford Town 0

PAUL Weeks says he is fed up of telling his players to 'believe in themselves more'.

Weeks turned up the half-time heat in the dressing room at Gosport on Monday night – and his rollicking had the desired effect with a much improved performance in the second half.

However, Town couldn't overturn a 40th minute winner from Pat Cox.

Weeks said: "It's so frustrating. Gosport were more committed, tried harder, kept the ball better and came out the blocks quicker in that first half. We were very average for 45 minutes yet they didn't really look like scoring until we gave away their goal.

"After I shouted and raged at half-time we played them off the park. However, it's a results based industry and we got nothing."

The introduction of three subs early in the second half – Josh Brown, Leon Jeanne and Max Etheridge – was the catalyst for the improvement.

"We kept our shape much better in the second half," said Weeks.

"Ben John made one good save, but Josh Brown had a volley deflected wide, Leon kept the ball for fun and Andy Lewis had three headers and probably should have scored.

"When my side is aggressive and gets in people's faces other sides can't live with us.

"My best side is as good as any in the league and I'm quite comfortable saying that. I also think a lot of other managers in this division would agree with me.

"I think our biggest problem is a mental one.

"We play too much of what I call college football.

"Some of the players don't understand that the first priority in any match is to get on top and win your personal battles. We've got a good squad but we don't seem capable of having bad games and still winning. We haven't learnt how to win ugly."

Weeks says his side now has only an outside chance of making the play-offs, but he still believes a long winning streak is a real possibility.

He added: "I'm not happy with players just turning up, thinking time is on their side. Football doesn't work like that.

"The players have a real opportunity to achieve something this season, but they've got to give it their all.

"We've got Clevedon on Saturday and it's a potential banana skin because I know that their players will be scrapping for everything."

Cinderford Town: Ben John, Warren Archer, Greg Lewis, Dan Harrison, Danny Haynes, Andy Lewis, Peter Macklin, Dale Evans, Brad Andrews, Nick McCootie, Lewis Sommers. Subs: Josh Brown, Steve Peters, Leon Jeanne, Max Etheridge, Nick Hancock.