DANNY COWLEY has urged his Concord Rangers players to enjoy the rest of the season, after their unbeaten run earned him the Vanarama Conference South manager of the month award.
The Essex side were sat one point outside the playoffs going into the weekend’s action, having gone 15 matches without a defeat in all competitions.
It’s a run that has seen the Beachboys reach the Essex Senior Cup final and into a position where they are firmly knocking on the door of the top tier of Non-League, despite being a Step 5 side just eight years ago.
Cowley said: “Our main target was to establish ourselves as a Conference South team. We had a good first year, finishing ninth, and we’ve surpassed expectations. We would be doing ourselves a disservice though not to be looking at getting into the play-offs.
“Is it realistic for a club of Concord’s size? Probably not. But then eight years ago when we were at Essex Senior level, was it realistic to be a Conference South side? Probably not, so nothing in this world is impossible.
“We won’t get ahead of ourselves. You’ve only got to look at Staines beating Bromley to know how tough a league this is. We’ve put ourselves in a position that nobody thought was possible and we are going to enjoy it.
“There is no pressure though because we know we are working as hard as we can so whatever happens, it’ll be the best we can do.
Unbeaten
“There aren’t not many footballers that get to April with everything to play for and have no pressure on them, so we’re looking forward to it.”
While Cowley picked up the manager award for March it was Eastbourne Borough‘s Ryan Worrall that won the player of the month for the Vanarama Conference South. Worrall, 18, netted two vital penalties during the month after progressing from the Sports’ academy.
In the Vanarama Conference, Paul Hurst led Grimsby to an unbeaten March putting themselves firmly in the race for the title and he earned the award for top boss. Scott Rendell takes home the player of the month award after he scored five times – including a double against Chester last weekend – to ensure Woking remain in the play-off hunt.
Boston’s Dennis Greene and Tom Webb of Gloucester won the Vanarama Conference North manager and player of the month awards respectively.
Boston won four out of four while one-club man Webb, 30, made his 600th appearance for the Tigers.
