SOLIHULL Moors are just three points off the top of the table following their hard-fought 2-1 victory over Ebbsfleet United.
However, boss Tim Flowers is not getting carried away by his side’s lofty position in the National League standings and stressed securing league safety comes first.
After a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Barnet the previous weekend, Moors got immediately back on track on Saturday as goals from Jermaine Hylton and Luke Maxwell were enough to down Ebbsfleet, who had equalised through Danny Kedwell.
Flowers said: “To be fair to the players, we’ve got a very small, tight-knit squad and they’ve been magnificent.
“The key is to try and maintain those standards if we can. We’re just slightly over a third of the way through the season and I’ve got lads in the dressing room who have won this division or been promoted.
“They’ll probably say the message to the players is don’t bother looking until around March time and then you’ll know whether you’re in with a shout.
“The priority is to get to 50 points as quickly as possible and then we’ll have another look.”
With ten wins from a possible 16, Moors find themselves fifth in the table and Flowers was quick to praise the effort his players showed on Saturday to grind out another three points.
“It was scrappy to say the least,” he said.
“We went in 1-0 up – a great finish from Jermaine (Hylton). A little bit of a Cruyff turn and then he whips it into the roof of the net.
“Second half was the reverse. We got penned back from minute one and I thought the equaliser was coming, if I’m honest.
“Once it was 1-1, it was a real test of us. We made a couple of changes and just tried to freshen it up a little bit and then there was a great goal from Luke (Maxwell).
“He’s been on loan from Birmingham along with Corey (O’Keeffe) this season.
“They’ve been in and out the team and every time they’ve played, they’ve made a difference.
“It was a super finish from him, he swung his left foot and beat the goalkeeper at the near post.
“Fortunately for us we managed to get a very well-earned three points.”
Flowers was also happy with how his players coped with a physical Ebbsfleet outfit.
“Eighty per cent of National League games are like that,” he added.
“They’re very physical, the ball gets played from back to front most of the time, there’s usually a big targetman in every team and lads who are willing will get on the second ball.
“It is momentum. We’ve got a super home record that we’re desperate to protect and Ebbsfleet’s form on the road has been super. It’s a big result for us.”
Moors are in FA Cup fourth qualifying round action on Saturday when they make the trip to Witton Albion.
