Jones looking to build on pleasing win

NEWI Cefn Druids' 1-0 victory over Haverfordwest County on Saturday was doubly pleasing for joint player-manager Lee Jones.

While the result brought joy for Jones, the performance that went with it made the three points that brought an end to the season even more satisfying.

"We're delighted. The second half, I would say, was probably the best we've played all season. In the first half we got the ball on the floor and passed it.

"We had plenty of pace through the team. They're a top ten team, where we want to be, and I don't think they caused us any problems over 90 minutes. We always looked a threat going forward."

Jones also praised some of the individual efforts on the day, including Chris McGinn who notched his tenth of the season.

He said: "The goal was superb. It was a bad mistake from their lad, but Ginny took it really well and gave us something to build on.

"In the second half I thought we were good value for the win and it's pleasing for the lads who have come in.

"Joe Price came in and was fantastic. Aaron Aby did really well considering it was his fifth game in seven days. His energy levels are fantastic."

With the season finishing on a high for Druids as the club finished twelfth in the Welsh Premier League table, Jones admitted that it is a platform to build on for the next campaign.

He said: "We're really pleased. I always look at 1-0 as a great result - a clean sheet and a goal. It's something we've not had enough of this year and something we're looking to plan on for next year.

"Myself and Waynne probably started planning for next season around six or seven weeks ago and it's nice to see the future of the club is bright. We've got young lads coming through. We've got experienced players who are playing well and helping them along. We're delighted."

Jones added: "Too often this season we've had a performance but not the result and we've gone the other way, just like against Caernarfon the other week, where we've won well but the performance wasn't good. So it was nice to cap off the season with a good performance and a good result. Everyone takes a lot of credit for it - and we finished twelfth.

"When we took the job in the summer we said we want to finish in the top twelve and get a Premier Cup place and have a good run in the Welsh Cup. We've acheived that, although the Premier Cup has been abolished. But now we've got something to build on ready for next year.

"We want to finsh in the top ten next year. I don't know how many points we were from finishing in the top ten, maybe a couple of wins. One thing we haven't done this year is draw enough games and grind out results, which is something we want to work on.

"If you're drawing games, then there's that fine line between winning them. Maybe there were four or five games this season that we lost which, perhaps, we shouldn't have. If we'd got a draw out of those games it might have taken us up a couple of places."

Looking solely to next season, Jones is optimistic and sees a top ten finish within the reach of the squad.

He said: "The foundations are there for the club. The club is moving forward and we aim to take the team into the top ten next season.

"Performances come with results. We've not been consistent enough this season.

"Throughout our season we've gone three games unbeaten at best - including cup ties - or two in the league, which isn't good enough if you want to be in the top ten."