WE have a flu bug going round the club and three of the side – Scott Griffin, Jamie Reid and Steve Davies – asked not to play, but I talked them round and they did very well.

We have deserved more out of our last two games and we got what we deserved here.

The lads have worked very hard these last two weeks and we are getting the responses we are looking for.

Having said that, half-time came at the right time for us when it was still 1-1. For ten minutes before the break, with Cleeve down to ten men, we lost our way as we seemed to have too many people with too few players to mark.

We got in amongst them at half-time and it was much better after the break.

Russ Courtney was missing because he had to go home for Christmas, but we were lucky enough to get Lee Molyneaux, having just been released by Forest Green.

Moly played very well and his presence certainly helped in defence.

He will provide real competition for places until the end of the season. We defended much better, though Cleeve did not pose much of a threat in open play.

Their game plan was limited to free kicks, corners and long throws.

On the other hand, we always looked dangerous going forward. Griff, Browney and Davo are going to prove a handful for any team in this division as they not only have pace but quality as well.

All goals are good goals, but I liked all five of ours.

Shaun Wimble took the opener very well, while Griff’s penalties were both cast-iron and he put them away well.

Browney’s goal was probably the pick of them, as he jinked around two or three players and then chipped the goalie.

I think he would also have scored had he not been hauled back on the edge of the box, the foul which resulted in Gareth Hopkins being sent off. I have never seen Carl miss a one-on-one and I think he would have buried that one, too.

Also, it was great for Rob Dean to score his first senior goal. He has plenty of good assets and shows tremendous enthusiasm.

We now have a tough test against Didcot on New Year’s Day and we won’t ask the lads to train on Tuesday, because we don’t want any more going down with the flu.

Browney and Reidy came off towards the end, but I expect them both to be available. Browney has a nasty gashed foot, while Reidey was getting cramps towards the end having been in bed with the flu in the run-up to the game.

The signs are that we are going in the right direction and there are plenty of matches left to go on a bit of a run.

I would have loved to keep the same team, unfortunately Moly had already committed to a family outing on New Year’s Day, so we will have to change the team again.