HALSTEAD Town manager Mark McLean feels his team’s performance at Downham Town shows the positive “shift” that they have made in recent weeks.

The Humbugs’ 3-1 Thurlow Nunn League division one win backed up their success at Team Bury the week before and McLean is confident they are heading in the right direction now they are at full strength as they prepare to travel to Swaffham Town tomorrow.

“I was really happy with them at Downham,” said the Halstead boss.

“I feel there has been a shift now and a positive energy is there through the whole group.

“It’s hard to explain, but everyone being there and not having injuries like we did is making a difference.

“The players are understanding things better and there are variations in what we are being able to do.

“It has come together in a good way for us.

“Downham are a good side; a better side than the one we played last year.

“They scored from a set piece and something like that may have knocked us two months ago, but we shook ourselves down and it was us who then took control of the game.

“It was superb to watch them.”

Both Marcus Warren and Jack Schelvis opened their season’s goal accounts with strikes in the win at Downham and McLean feels having goals coming from different areas highlights that variation that he is now seeing.

He added: “We have got more variations to our play now and I think that is reflected in the scorers of our goals and that there are different figures on the scoresheet.

“We have changed the system and that has freed us up in attacking areas.

“There is a nice balance to us now and we are dominating games for sustained periods so we can get the job done.

“We were having to play 4-4-2 before, which is a system I’m not a big fans of as it only gives you percentage football and we weren’t able to dominate the game.

“We had to do it with the people we had available, but I’m not happy with that, so I’m pleased we are able to have the different variations.

“Now we are dominating all areas.”

Halstead’s win saw them leapfrog Downham into ninth place in the division one table and McLean said the next task is to close the eight-point gap on the sides directly above them, however, he insists they are taking it one game at a time.

He said: “There is plenty to play for - lots of games and loads of points - but it is a tough month for us.

“Team Bury we knew would be difficult so it was good to win there and it was a great win against a good Downham side and those two results have set us up for the next couple of hard games.

“We are looking forward to them to see where we are, but we are in a good mental place heading into them.

“We want to get up to the sides above us, but the next challenge is the next game in front of us.

“We haven’t lost many, but I keep coming back to the draws we’ve had this year and we have to win games now.

“The table is something I am aware of and we are not where I want us to be.

“There is no fear of the teams above us, but we just have to start climbing and we’ll take it one game at a time.

“We are looking strong for the trip to Swaffham, but Adam Hampson and Karl Andrade won’t be available due to work commitments.

“However, we now have players to come in and we will be able to deal with it.

“We will be full of confidence.

“We know Swaffham score a lot of goals, but we will look to stamp our authority early on and see where it takes us.”