Holleran looks to attack the play-offs

Holleran unleashed a new-look midfield of Lee Chilton, Neil Barnfield, Craig Owen and Matthew Dodd on in-form Bedford Town on Tuesday night and was instantly rewarded with a 2-1 win to end a sequence of 11 league games without a victory.

Barnfield is well known to the New Windmill faithful having been a regular starter in Brakes’ run to the play-offs last season.

He suffered a cruel double leg break in the semi-final defeat at Hednesford and rejoined Leamington prior to the 2-2 draw at Cambridge City after completing his rehabilitation at Halesowen Town.

Dodd, however, is more of an unknown quantity, with Holleran beating off a number of clubs to secure the services of the pacy winger from Sutton Coldfield.

And, with Brakes lying six points off the top five with just 27 points left to play for, Holleran said it was vital he instilled more creativity in his side.

“Obviously the situation we’re in, we need to win more games than we lose,” said Holleran.

“I’ve had to tinker with my philosophies a little bit to make us more of a threat.

“I was always planning to bring Neil Barnfield back before the deadline and I’ve brought him in a week or so early, while Craig Owen deserves a run in the team in his favoured position of centre midfield.

“They’re both good passers of the ball and Matty Dodd is a player I’ve always liked.

“He’s got out and out pace, he’s direct and he’s got an eye for goal.

“I know Worcester paid some money for him before but I’ve always been surprised he hasn’t gone on.”

Holleran’s hand was part forced, with Richard Batchelor ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a fractured metatarsal in the 2-2 draw at Cambridge City and captain Lee Downes leaving the club.

However, Holleran said he was always planning to freshen things up in the heart of midfield, with his decision leading to Downes’ departure.

“Lee has been a great captain for this club,” said Holleran. “He cares deeply about his football and I think the situation we were in was getting to him a little bit and led to a dip in his form.

“I felt it was time for him to come out of the side and we had a little chat and he didn’t agree.”

Holleran is hoping to build on the feel-good factor generated by the win at Bedford tomorrow when struggling Cirencester are the visitors to the New Windmill.

A home fixture with Banbury quickly follows on Tuesday night and the Brakes boss believes the play-offs are still a realistic aim.

“We’ve been better than the results and the players’ application has been spot on.

“We deserved more from Cambridge after a really good performance and I’m really happy for the players, and for the fans who made the trip to Bedford.

“Considering the position we’re in and the run we’ve been on the support on our travels has been tremendous.

“I’d like to think that’s because there’s been no lack of effort and they’ve seen the team having a go.

“We can take a lot of heart from our last two performances but we’re far from done.

“We still believe we can amass enough points to be in and around the play-offs.”

 Experienced midfielder Ian King has joined Brakes until the end of the season, while striker Luke Corbett has moved to Bedworth United.