PAUL ATTFIELD believes Saturday’s FA Vase Second Round clash with Thetford Town has come at a good time for his team.

The Crows boss had expressed some minor concerns a few weeks ago regarding the performances of his players – stressing the need to win games convincingly rather than struggle to get results – but impressive displays against Hertford Town and Broxbourne Borough have allayed those fears and the Crows boss is expecting more of the same this weekend.

Thetford are currently second in the Ridgeons League Division One – one below Royston – and have won all of their 10 matches so far, so Attfield isn’t expecting the Norfolk-based side to give them an easy ride.

“This tie has come at the right time for us,” Attfield told the Crow.

“The results have been consistently good but the performances in the last two games have been a lot better. The tempo we showed against Hertford and Broxbourne was good and we need to continue that.

“I know they [Thetford] came to watch us against Hertford so they will have an idea of what we’re about. They’re unbeaten this season so it won’t be easy for us.

“We had a couple of good games against Ridgeon Division One teams during pre-season (Godmanchester Rovers and Cambridge University Press) so we have a good idea of what the standard will be like.”

Attfield will go into the match with a near full-strength side, with only Warren Plowright unavailable, and despite having a squad of 22 players, the Crows boss says those that are missing out understand the team has been picking itself in recent weeks.

“They all appreciate the competition for places in the squad,” added Attfield.

“We’ve got this size squad because of what has happened in the last couple of seasons where we’ve struggled badly with injuries and it’s cost us, so we need a big squad in order to cope.

“I’m not putting myself out there to keep people happy because the aim is for this club to get promotion, and the players understand that.”

Attfield says the club is hoping for a bumper crowd for Saturday’s match, which kicks off at Garden Walk at 3pm.

“I hope there will be a decent-sized crowd,” he said. “The Vase usually generates a good support and I remember when we reached the fifth round a couple of years ago the gates got bigger with every round.

“We had over 200 come down for the Hertford match so if we can build on that it will be great.”