ARE Knutsford FC about to turn a corner?

Manager Jordan Gunter thinks so – and they have made a good start in terms of getting their season back on track.

Saturday's 1-0 win over Middlewich Town raised spirits and while his side now have a weekend off, there is no doubt in Gunter's mind that things are starting to come together.

"It’s not been great up to now but I get the feeling it’s going to turn again," he told the Guardian.

"The lads that have come in now have gelled better. It’s been a rollercoaster and we’re not even halfway through the season yet.

"We got into our stride and were scoring goals quite freely, but we ended up going backwards again. We’ve chopped and changed the system a few times and it’s been mixed results.

"The main thing for us now is to find our momentum again, get scoring goals and get the smiles back on our faces. We’ve got the lads there to do it in abundance.

"You watch them in training and they are quality, but it’s putting it out on the pitch. They are all extremely good players and I’ve got every confidence in the world in them.

"It’s been a real struggle but we need to get a bit of swagger back."

Reds sit ninth in the Cheshire Football League Premier Division table but have exited two cup competitions in the shape of the Cheshire FA Amateur Cup and the JB Parker Challenge Cup.

Gunter, who is in his second season in charge at Manchester Road, admits he would have liked to have progressed further in both knockout formats but there are still chances to end the season with silverware.

"We wanted to progress further in the Cheshire Cup. I thought we could have got a job done there but it obviously wasn’t meant to be," he said.

"We’re out of the League Cup as well, which isn’t ideal.

"We’ve got a bye through to the quarter-finals of the Altrincham Senior Cup and we have a home tie in that.

"Looking at it, we’d like to get to the final of that.

"I’ve been in the final a few times – winning and losing – and it’s always a great night at Altrincham’s ground under the lights. That alone should spur the lads on in that one."

As far as the remainder of the league season goes, Gunter's target is clear.

"We expected to be pushing for the top five at least in the league," he said.

"That wasn’t a target as such but it’s kind of expected at this club.

"At the minute, we definitely want to improve upon where we finished last season.

"That’s got to be the big target for us and it’s definitely achievable."