Last updated 22:24, Thursday, 16 October 2008

WHAT a few weeks it has been down at Borough Park.

STAYING: Adam Collin

Players and managers agreeing a pay cut, physiotherapists leaving, 10 per cent, 60 per cent, no goals in more than 400 minutes, four goals in 50 minutes, penalty heartache, out of the FA Cup, four clean sheets for Adam Collin, four points off the play-offs, going north of the border, Tamworth on Saturday and Radio Cumbria giving John Walsh the whole of Cumbria to broadcast to on Tuesday night against Gateshead even though Barrow were playing. Well it’s always nice to beat them, even with the commentary.

Phew.

Right, where to start?

If there was any doubt what a drop in wages would do for that squad then Tuesday night settled it. The 4-2 win over Gateshead must have been one of the best performances of the season.

Shaun Vipond is becoming quite a player for Reds. He started slowly to life in Blue Square North and to most, including myself, he didn’t look up to the grade.

His performance against Gateshead dispelled any thoughts that he couldn’t do it. He was playing centrally for the first time in a three-man midfield and that helped his game. The first goal was slightly lucky but the second, he just hammered.

For weeks Darren Edmondson has been telling me that he’s been playing well away from home, so it is about time that Borough Park fans saw what he can do.

Edmondson said: “He’s been playing on the wing and doing well for us, but Shaun is best in the centre.

“I was delighted for him to get the goals and hopefully he will continue to improve here.”

If one player in that squad does need a good performance it is Dan Robinson. He’s put in a lot of work and was unlucky not to score the other night.

If he and Gareth Arnison hadn’t got in each other’s way he might have registered his first goal. He definitely needs one. It will settle him down and hopefully give him a confidence boost.

It’s a tough game this weekend with Tamworth coming to town. The full-time club are second in the league and have a former European Cup winner at the helm.

Gary Mills won it for Forest in 1980 and last month was manager of the month for Blue Square North.

In their ranks they have the much travelled Des Lyttle. He may have been at 11 clubs but he’s also played in the Premier League for three different club – Forest, Watford and West Brom.

I think Reds, with their new 4-5-1 system, can cause them a lot of problems. Robinson is quick and Anthony Wright on the left will be up and down the touchline all afternoon.

And this new three-man central midfield of Tony Hopper, Shaun Vipond and linchpin Graham Anthony will be hard to break down.

At the moment the whole club is confident.

The players know that in goal they have a quality keeper in Adam Collin, who has been linked to Hibs this week. But a rumour is all it is.

That confidence Collin gives the team is invaluable.

Jonny Wright sat next to me on Tuesday and said that he is looking to be back for the Farsley game in three weeks time. Great news for all concerned because a team with Wright in it is much more of a threat than without him.