HOLSWORTHY manager Ryan Hall admits their season has been ‘full of ups and downs’ as they prepare for a crucial run of fixtures before Christmas.

The Magpies started the season on fire with four wins from their first five games, but since then have failed to win in their last ten as well as being knocked out of both the Devon St Lukes Bowl and SWPL League Cup.

While four of those have been draws, Hall, who saw his side’s home clash with Camelford postponed on Saturday due to Storm Bert, admits it’s been extremely frustrating.

“The season so far has been full of up and downs, with a real lack of consistency.

“At moments we have shown real quality and in other times we have shown real lacks of discipline and quality, with unavailability, long-term holidays and suspensions really affecting our performances.”

Holsworthy have scored just 15 goals in as many games, but have been miserly at the other end in conceding just 19 – with only three sides bettering that tally.

Hall admitted: “Goals have been an issue, but not not for the want of trying. We can’t say we haven’t made chances, it’s just been a real lack of cutting edge, which has cost us.

“I have no doubt if we had taken those chances, we’d be sat in the top six, but that’s how it goes sometimes. I’m very happy with our defensive record and two back-to-back clean sheets is pleasing, but it’s something we have to build on going forward.

“With players coming back, our options in both directions are only going to be improved and this should further solidify our position in the league.”

The Magpies, who are 11th with 16 points, visit third bottom Bodmin Town and 12th-placed Sticker before hosting St Day (December 14) and then neighbours Bude Town on Boxing Day (11am).

Hall said: “We seem to do well against the sides above us, but often struggle against the teams in and around us.

“It’s a mental block we have to overcome and we have been working with the lads on different ways to approach games and things we can do within a game to spark us into life.

“Another thing is we like to play football and sometimes succumb to the dark arts, which tend to be played more in this period of the winter.

“It’s an area we have highlighted and focused on and hopefully something we feel we have addressed as a side and shouldn’t be such an achilles heel moving forward.”

Hall expects results to pick up with players coming back.

He said: “We have lots of players returning in December in Toby Martyn, Aidan Slade, Max McDonald and Jack Tribble and Gavin Carter from suspension – so with those numbers, plus adding a couple of new faces, adds almost half of a new side together.

“They add to us massively all over the pitch and will result in improved results and performances.

“At full flight we’re a match for anyone at this level, we have shown that – just being at full flight all of the time as been the balance we have struggled to meet so far this season.”

Looking back on Saturday, with the Devonians having played half of their games already, Hall wasn’t too concerned about the call off.

He said: “It’s always frustrating to have games cancelled, but we have had a good run in fairness.

“We’ve managed to complete most of our fixtures, which is good, as avoiding a pile up towards the end of the season is essential, particularly with our run-ins over the last two years which have been nothing short of horrendous.”