BOSS Rob Smith has challenged his Halesowen Town players to build on their first win under his management.

The Yeltz bagged a 2-0 success over Banbury thanks to goals from Dan Sweeney, who netted his first since his return to the club, and veteran Lee Hughes. It was their first success in six games under the guidance of Smith and his assistant Larry Chambers.

The new man at the Grove wants the victory to kick start the club’s fight to beat the drop in Southern League Central.

He said: “I thought we fully deserved it. Platty (Dan Platt) has not had anything to do really.

“I thought the back four were superb. We’ve had injuries with two of our better players in Callam (Mendes-Jones) and Sam (Griffiths) missing today but Joe Fitzpatrick has gone in there and was man of the match by a country mile.

“The kid is brilliant. He’ll play anywhere for you. He can be a bit lazy at times but I thought he read the game well and him and Kieran Morris were outstanding.

“The players gave me everything today. I do think we should be going on and winning that by more but we were just so tired. Everybody has given everything for me and I can’t say enough about that really.

“We’ve come together as a dressing room. That’s a great result but it has to be the start now.

“Hopefully that also gives us a bit of confidence because the first win for us is important.

“I told them players that anyone who wants to go can go and anyone who is with us to fight together. That’s what we’re going to have to do.

“If this club can stay up this year, which we will, then the future is really bright for us.”

On Dan Sweeney netting his first this season, he added: “He’s tremendous. He’s a great lad and he’s been really down about it because he’s never gone this many games without a goal and when you have runs like this you just have to keep working harder and harder.

“What a great goal, I’m really pleased for Dan and hopefully he’ll get a few more now.”