Barlow-Stanton has found the recipe

It takes a certain kind of nerve to go to Aigburth and actually come home with the points. Most managers would have parked the bus and prayed for a corner. Barlow-Stanton didn't. He set Hitchin Athletic up to actually play football, and it paid off.

The 2-1 win was a proper piece of work. It wasn't fancy, but it was honest. The shape was disciplined, the lads looked like they knew exactly where to stand, and they didn't panic when Aigburth pushed. It is rare to see a side look that composed in the belly of a scrap. He has a knack for getting the basics right: a sturdy back line and a bit of directness when it matters.

There was one moment where a defender nearly took his own head off attempting a clearance, but that is just character. Barlow-Stanton has them believing in a system that actually works. It is not rocket science, but it is hard to do. He has turned a group of players into a unit that knows how to grind out a result without losing their dignity. There is no time to celebrate. They have another matchday tomorrow, and the momentum is finally on their side.