AT this point in the season sometimes the result is more important than the performance and that was the case on Saturday.

After conceding a late equaliser at Bath City and claiming a hard-earned draw at Tiverton Town, taking three points against Chelmsford City was vital to keep us in touch with the leaders.

We got there thanks to Mark Owen's goal, and after a few 4-0 wins, it's nice to have an unspectacular 1-0 for a change.

Chelmsford might be bottom of the Dr Martens Premier Division, but I don't think they were any mugs by a long chalk.

They were awkward, resilient and, the fact that Stafford Rangers needed a last minute goal to beat them the week before, meant it was always going to be tough.

For our part we played some good stuff in spells but equally had a few inconsistent and sloppy periods.

We needed Danny McDonnell to make a terrific save at the start of the second-half when the match was evenly poised.

By the same token we had some periods of quality, on what I thought was a bobbly and difficult surface.

It wasn't the easiest pitch, but we rose to the challenge highlighted by the goal which followed a great cross from Adam Wilde and a good finish by Mark.

I have to admit my heart was in my mouth because his shot stood up a bit but things seem to be going our way at the moment.

Paul Carty nearly made it two with a good shot at the end and showed, even on his 200th appearance for the club, that his enthusiasm and energy for the game are still there in abundance.

Overall, it was a decent display, but if I was being critical I would say we got into some good positions but let ourselves down with our delivery. However, a win is a win and it was crucial with no game this weekend.

Saturday's win now leaves us unbeaten in six league matches and we're firmly focused on maintaining this form for the run-in.

The one big disappointment of the last two seasons has been the way we've tailed off. It's all very well going great guns for two-thirds of the season but a league campaign is 42 matches long and to fall short leaves a bitter taste.

We must ensure, if at all possible, that that does not happen again.

Year on year we've increased the quality of the squad and that must be reflected in an improved league position. Touch wood, we've got things going our way at the moment.

The squad looks pretty strong, give or take the odd niggle, and we're in good shape for the final push.

Leon Kelly and Adam Wilde picked up little knocks against Chelmsford so the free weekend has come at just the right time.

Jai Stanley is still not match fit but he's ahead of schedule in his comeback from knee surgery and the two games against Tiverton and Chelmsford will have done him good.

We've always got an eye open to strengthen the squad, if possible, and we've currently got one or two on-going enquiries on the transfer front that we're chasing up.

Nothing is cut and dried but if we can bolster our squad for the run-in that would be great.