SHAFTESBURY | SONNY SHINES

There's been a big change of fortunes at the Division One South club

What a difference a year makes for Shaftesbury.

Their recent 3-1 away win at Bashley took them to 46 points from 20 League games, exactly the same number of points that they ended last season on as they narrowly avoided the drop.

Now, they prepare to go into the busy festive period sitting amongst the top five in the Division One South table as they live up to their pre-season billing as one of the favourites for promotion thanks to a solid summer of recruitment, which has been added to as the campaign has gone on.

A key piece of the jigsaw is Sonny Pike, who has been a consistent figure since joining the club from Hamworthy Recreation.

“Whilst it was disappointing to lose at Winchester in our last game, we’ve been on a good run of form recently and we need to respond in the right way,” Pike told us. “It doesn’t get any easier, though, as our next outing sees us come up against the League leaders, Frome Town.

“These are the type of games that you want to be involved in. A positive result will see us take some good momentum into the New Year, so that’s what we are looking to do.

“This is a really strong League, there’s absolutely no doubt about that, so to be tucked in amongst the top five is good. Things are still very tight and we know that we are surrounded by real quality. Even the teams in the lower reaches of the table provide a tough test, there are certainly no easy games, you have to be switched on at all times.

“But we’ve had a solid season so far and personally I am really enjoying being part of it. We’ve got a great group here and we always seem to find a way to win, even when we’re not at our best and that’s a great quality to have, something that will stand us in good stead for the battles ahead in the second half of the season.

“We’re excited by what the year ahead holds in store for the club, on and off the pitch. If we keep chipping away, then there is no reason why we can’t be celebrating come the end of the season.”

Having played host to Frome Town on Saturday, the New Year gets underway at Swindon Supermarine.

IMAGE: Shaftesbury FC

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