Newark & Sherwood manager Romaine Graham changes style to get United Counties League season back on track with 3-1 win over Heanor

Manager Romaine Graham looks set to persist with his refreshing back-to-basics approach after Newark & Sherwood delivered the goods last weekend.

The Highwaymen’s form has been patchy in recent weeks but they got back on track with Kole Lambert’s double and a Benni Wilson strike in a 3-1 win over Heanor on Saturday.

Graham stripped things back at training, implementing a more pragmatic style that brought him success in his playing days.

The team followed instructions to the letter, overcoming the absence of skipper Jamie Goodard and top scorer Kieran Cummings.

Victory moved them up to ninth in United Counties League Premier Division North.

“It was the complete performance, apart from conceding right at the end,” said Graham, whose side host Gresley at Harrowby this Saturday (3pm).

“It was one of those weeks, it doesn’t happen too often but everything I did just worked.

“At training, it was all about intensity, getting the ball forward and working hard.

“I said this is how I want us to play and that’s how we played in the game, so I was really happy.

“We just controlled the game in a different way. We were direct and played in their area.

“It’s given us a bit more of an identity. It’s what I know.

“I won the league playing the way we did at the weekend.

“Maybe it’s a learning thing for me as a gaffer but sometimes you hear things and you think differently, but we just played the way I know, so that’s how we’re going to set up going forward.

“I’ve played at a load of different clubs but we were successful at Long Eaton by putting pressure on teams and playing in the right areas.

“The team I assembled here, I did want us to be more dominant in possession or a bit more patient in our approach.

“But the reality is at this level if you put pressure on teams, and you’ve got better players, you win the game, so I’ve just simplified it.

“I’ve looked at the situation, I’ve got better players, and if we work harder and play in the opposition’s area more, good things will happen.

“Before, we were getting caught in possession in the middle of the pitch and then losing it in transition.”

Graham’s work on the training ground included a heart-to-heart with the players.

As a former centre-half himself, he could tell his defenders a few home truths without causing offence.

“I reiterated what I expect,” said Graham.

“I said to the centre-halves, ‘I was a centre-half, it’s not about you at all, we clear up other people’s mess, we don’t take any of the limelight, just give the ball to the players that will win us the game’, and that’s exactly what we did.

“We got it forward to Kole, he was effective, and Benny was effective, and that’s what it is in non-league.

“I think our midfield was taking too long on the ball. No, just get the ball, get it forward, put out fires, win your seconds and it just worked, and it was a joy.

“We played some good football, too, because the players who can play better were on the ball more.”