RETURNING Pewsey Vale boss Adi Holcombe is hoping that his side’s Wiltshire Senior Cup win will be the catalyst they need to turn around their season.

Prior to their trip to Calne Town, Pewsey had failed to pick up a point in any of their opening seven games, but goals from Zak Messenger and Ricky Franklin were enough to secure victory for the first time this campaign.

The match was Holcombe’s second back in charge and he was pleased to see an immediate response from his players.

“It’s a massive improvement from the week before against Stoneham,” he said.

“The first five minutes, we were slow out of the blocks and quite lucky not to concede and then we got a foothold in the game.

“We started understanding shape and started moving the ball a lot quicker.

“As players, when you have had seven defeats in a row and not the best of seasons, I think there was a lot of relief in the dressing room.

“I would never question morale. We just had problems at the beginning of the season with injuries and key players missing playing cricket.

“Usually, it starts taking shape in September but it has taken that little bit longer.”

Pewsey Vale now face Brockenhurst in the Sydenhams League Cup this weekend, but will be without the suspended Ryan Banks.

Despite the Badgers playing in the Sydenhams Premier Division, Holcombe is eyeing another win, but knows their league game against Andover New Street the following week is more important.

“It is against higher league opposition, but, if we do the basics right, I have a good feeling that we can get something out of the Brockenhurst game,” he said.

“The Andover New Street game is the one that I have pencilled in to get three points out of to kick-start our season in the league.

“The weekend gone has kick-started us nicely. We have another cup game to tweak the things we need to do and things are going alright and I don’t think it will be long before we start climbing up the table.”