PATIENCE is a rare concept in modern football, even further down the English pyramid.

Whilst Premier League sides set new precedents for kneejerk decisions, some non-league sides are also susceptible to revolving door policies in terms of managers and playing staff.

That is not the case at Brockenhurst, where Pat McManus has quietly constructed a platform for the Badgers to suddenly jump up the table this season.

Whilst never truly threatened by the prospect of relegation over the past few years, Brockenhurst have rarely troubled the upper reaches of the Wessex Premier.

But after biding their time over the last five seasons, Brockenhurst have established themselves as one of the frontrunners in an extremely tight title race.

What makes their improvement all the more impressive is their exploits in the FA Vase, with a run to the fourth round setting up a New Forest derby with New Milton tomorrow.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Brock boss McManus stated: “ We are sort of bearing the fruit now, of what we've done over the past probably four, to five seasons, with our under-18s and youth structure.

“There's been a lot going on in the background, which has enabled us now to concentrate on the senior side.

Whilst the addition of Silvano Obeng, the Wessex Premier’s leading goalscorer this campaign, certainly has boosted Brockenhurst, McManus was quick to point out the nucleus of the side that had stuck together in recent years.

“We made a decision this preseason that if we made sort of three or four solid, experienced additions, I felt that we could have a much bigger impact in the division and to date, it's all coming to fruition really.”

"It’s all come together. As much as the new signings have done well, the younger lads have also done well. It’s all sort of dovetailed.”

Not only deep into the FA Vase, the Badgers find themselves embroiled in a four-way fight for the title – with Brockenhurst, Hamworthy, Baffins Milton and Horndean are all within three points of each other.

“We're doing well in a really competitive division,” continued McManus.

“I think to be honest, and I know a lot of people who are of the same opinion, it is probably the most competitive the league has for a very long time. It’s quite exciting.”

Out of the four pacesetters in the Wessex Premier, only Hamworthy and Brockenhurst are still competing in the Vase. When asked if this put his side at a disadvantage compared to Horndean and Baffins, McManus replied: “I wouldn’t see it as a disadvantage, because we’re ahead in games anyway, so I think it's a welcome distraction sometimes.

“We're a game or two ahead in regards to league games, and you know, you'd rather be in the Vase at this stage than out of it in my opinion.

“And it keeps everybody within the group, I would say, keeps everybody sort of competitive and think, even three weeks down the line.

“If they think of the Vase games coming up, it keeps everybody on their toes, really, from a performance point of view.

“They’re making sure they're attending training et cetera, because everybody wants to be in the side. So, it has its advantages.”