JASON Matthews admitted he has been “pumped up” by the criticism that was thrown his way prior to the Terras’ latest three-match winning streak.
Matthews helped guide Weymouth to the 50-point mark in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division with a 3-2 win over Kettering on Saturday, a victory that put his side just seven points adrift of leaders Poole Town.
“I feel incredibly pumped up of late,” he told Echosport.
“Probably, with the criticism that was thrown at me a couple of weeks ago, it’s given me a little kick up the backside and it’s done the same for the lads.
“We are on 50 points now and we need to kick on. I think that we ought to target another 10 wins from 17 games. That will at least put us in the play-offs but we have got to try and catch Poole.”
As well as being named on the bench, Weymouth player-coach Chris McPhee watched from the main stand with an iPad during the first half of Saturday’s victory to analyse the display in the opening period. That was a move Matthews was happy to try out.
The player-boss added: “He (McPhee) is an important part of my coaching staff and it gives us a higher view where he can see things that are going on.
“We were doing a little bit of videoing and stuff and had a look at the goals we conceded. We saw something straight away on their corner so it’s a positive.
“Chris has done it before and done it at training but, personally I think it’s a very good idea.”
n Matthews also revealed midfielder George Rigg had to see a specialist in Bristol for the cut he sustained during the opening period on Saturday.
