The addition of former Norwich City players Grant Holt and Simon Lappin has raised promotion hopes even further at King's Lynn Town.
The former Canaries duo made their debuts in a 2-0 win over Hitchin at The Walks last night, making late cameos as the Linnets got back to winning ways in the Southern Premier Division.
'It's very nice to have that calibre of player in the dressing room,' defender Tom Ward said after the victory. 'I think we had some good players already so to add even more to it is very good and promising for the rest of the season.'
Goals from Craig Parker and Michael Gash saw Ian Culverhouse's side bounce back from a 3-1 loss at Weymouth, in front of the biggest home crowd of the season of just over 1,000.
'Week on week we take it with a pinch of salt because we don't want to get too carried away,' Ward continued. 'Our home form in particular has been brilliant and hopefully we'll keep adding to that and then if we keep adding quality players to what is already a good base then we're going to do very well.'
The victory kept the Linnets in fourth place in the Southern Premier Division, beating a 10-man Hitchin side who had won 4-0 at home to Stratford on Saturday – and who inflicted a 5-0 defeat on Lynn in Ian Culverhouse's first game back in February.
'A very good result,' the centre-back said. 'You know what you get when you play Hitchin, they're a very good side, they're hard to break down, they're feisty, as you've seen in the first half when they leave a bit in and the lad gets punished, which obviously played into our hands a bit.
'But we're really happy with the result, we were patient and the game-plan played well.'
MORE: Norwich legend Grant Holt relishing the chance to get stuck in for King's Lynn
Culverhouse deployed a 3-5-2 formation and Ward feels the system suits the Lynn squad.
He continued: 'I think it's the first time we've done it this season, we did it a lot last season and we've got three very good centre-halves at the club so get used to seeing three at the back probably.
'I like the three or the four, as long as we get results, either way is fine with me.'
MORE: Simon Lappin insists King's Lynn are not just an 'easy option' for Canaries favourites
Holt came on in the 72nd minute and Lappin in the 81st but Ward said their presence in the dressing room is already being noticed, with both having coaching responsibilities.
'For me, I found myself receiving the ball from the goalkeeper from a central position, normally I'm out wide and just help it round the corner to a player further forward than me,' Ward said, 'At half-time they pulled me to the side and said try to step inside and when someone steps off their marker, try to find someone like Jarv (Ryan Jarvis) or Parks (Parker) or whoever that may be.
'And for me, when I stepped inside two or three times during the second half I thought I looked a better player for it, so hopefully more advice like that I can take on board and improve my game and the same for the other guys.'
The Linnets are in home action in the league again on Saturday, when they host lowly Kings Langley in a 3pm kick-off.
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