SATURDAY’S game at Altrincham will begin a run of seven games in three weeks so the training is geared to be very hard on Tuesday, as after this it will be playing and recovering from matches.

The attitude of the players to a double session is as always excellent and we are definitely beginning to see the benefits of a much tougher training regime in the improved fitness and power of the squad.

Tom Ameobi and Ollie Thorne are still not quite fit for the weekend and Lee Ayres has a jab in his hip to aid his recovery so the team pretty much picks itself. I do need to get to the point where there is competition for all places but that will have to wait for the moment.

The week’s training goes really well and the team seem well prepared for the game up near Manchester. A long but comfortable trip up the M5 and M6 see us arrive at a wet yet calm Altrincham. We kick off and within ten seconds should be ahead as Stonehouse is sent clear but he pulls his shot wide. But the home team then pull ahead, first with a free header from a corner, and then from a throw in down our left side - very poor defending and a mountain to climb away from home.

This team is now a much different outfit from the start of the season and we start our comeback with a superb move and well taken goal from Smith.

We dominate proceedings for the rest of the game with ten shots on target to their none! Platt, Stonehouse, Powell, Smith and Rigg all test their goalkeeper who is quite rightly given man-of-the-match for the hosts.

The introduction of Powell on the right and the deployment of Smith up front give us even more impetus and it is only a matter of time before we equalise with a defence-splitting ball from Rocastle allowing Rigg to score.

Not content with a draw we then try to win the game and in the final minute their goalkeeper somehow keeps out a close range effort from McDonald.

Once again I can only be delighted with our performance and yet feel frustrated that we have not got our just rewards.

We must learn to be more clinical to add to our possession and territory and our improving fitness levels. We are definitely on the right lines and it can only be a matter of time before we really punish an opponent with a bag full of goals.

Nevertheless a great comeback and now a tough away trip to in-form Mansfield in the FA Cup Replay on Tuesday.

We will travel knowing that if we perform to our potential then we have a great chance of progressing. We march on.