KRISTIAN Morgan reckons his public rallying cry played its part in reviving the fortunes at Orleton Colts.

Back in November, the Colts boss questioned the commitment of his squad having struggled at the lower end of the Herefordshire Premier due to a lack of numbers.

Since then, Morgan has suddenly found players making themselves available more often, so much so he has been leaving himself out of the 16 altogether.

Saturday’s 6-2 thumping of Ledbury reserves, which came courtesy of goals from Nathan Hardisty (2), Martyn Jones (2), Shane Jennings and Mike Shillcock, was Orleton’s fourth win in a row and saw them climb to seventh in the table.

But while he is pleased to see the tide turn, Morgan's mixed emotions have been prompted by a sense of what might have been.

Explaining the sudden turnaround, Morgan said: “Everyone has been turning up, that’s why. We have gone into games with 18 fit and available lads so I have been able to sit out.

“I think rousing them did the job. It was getting to the point where it was becoming a joke, getting 12 players and scraping around all the time.

“Some people were working, others had silly excuses but they have all started to turn up now. It is annoying because if we had done this from the start of the season we could have been up there challenging.

“I think they know now. Without blowing our own trumpet, I knew at the start of the season that the squad we had could do well but it didn’t happen because we had so many out.

“Everyone played well and we deserved the win on Saturday. Our performances are benefiting from having that competition for places and a number of players to select from.

“We have beaten Tenbury Town, Leominster and Ledbury, which is pleasing, but I look back at games we lost by a single goal and think how it could have been different if we had gone into them with the squad we have now.”

Morgan, who utilised former Ludlow and Westfields midfielder Ryan Lockley in Saturday’s success, now wants to focus on continuity and cup competitions for the rest of the campaign.

“We are in a couple of minor cups so we will look to do well in them while keeping it all going,” he added.

“We’re not going to win the league, we know that but if we can keep the squad together week in week out, we will hopefully have a go at it next season.”