MANAGER Frank Gray reflected on Bashley’s recent revival and revealed that a change of system had paid dividends for the New Foresters.

Bash made it back-to-back away wins and continued their upturn in fortunes with a 1-0 victory over Premier Division rivals Bedford Town.

Former Cherries trainee Brad Strickland fired home a half-volley in the 87th minute to claim the points for Bash in Saturday’s clash.

That victory came after the midweek win at Arlesey and extended to four matches the club’s unbeaten Southern League run on the road.

Gray believes that a switch to playing three centre-backs has been key to 11th-placed Bash climbing away from the wrong end of the table.

He told the Daily Echo: “It is a system that takes a bit of getting used to for players who have not played it before. But they have stuck with it and the players are beginning to adjust to it now.

“Wherever I have been, it is a system I have always looked at and played a number of times.

“We didn’t have the best of starts to the season and that was one of the reasons we changed the shape and system.

“But in the past five, six or seven games, we have put on better performances and picked up some positive results.”

Gray added: “It was a good strike from Brad Strickland.

“We didn’t feel that we had played particularly well in the first half and we had a few words at half-time, saying that we had to improve a little bit. In the second half, we came out and played much better.”

Bash: Moore, Strickland, Oliver, Stephenson, Middleton, Richardson, Casey, Gradwell (Finlay, 84), Stokoe, Gamble (Knight, 60), Jenkinson. Unused subs: Hill, Green, Kearn (g/k).

  • Wimborne Town boss Steve Cuss highlighted a “borderline” penalty call which went against his team as they lost 2-0 at Tiverton Town.

Joe Bushin and Paul Kendall struck for Tiverton as the hosts moved to the top of the Southern League Division One South & West table.

But Wimborne were left to rue a refereeing decision at 1-0 down.

Cuss said: “Jamie Davidson got fouled on the corner of the penalty box. The linesman signalled for a foul and the referee pointed to the spot. The referee and linesman spoke and decided it was outside the box. It was tight and a tough call.”

Cuss added: “It was a pretty even game and we were fairly pleased with the performance.

“They were clinical with their two chances.”

Magpies: Harvell, Arnold, Cole, Costello, Brian, Gill (Blake, 70), Hubbard, Sainsbury (Kemble, 70), Webb (Smith, 70), Davidson, Jeffes. Unused subs: Peprah-Annan, Ackerman (g/k).