Mapley admits focus has been tough after Flackwell Heath's six-goal blitz

Callum Mapley admits it’s been difficult for Flackwell Heath’s players to maintain focus and motivation with the club idling along in the lower half of the Southern League Central Division table.

But after back-to-back league defeats against Thame United and Hadley, the Heathens delivered a performance on Saturday which suggests they’re capable of turning around what’s been a largely disappointing season.

For the second successive season, they smashed AFC Dunstable at home, winning 6-0 on Saturday in front of 150 very appreciative supporters at Wilks Park.

The result lifts them to 12th in the table and brings a solid top half finish back within reach.

Chris Ayres’ side got the job done in the first half on Saturday, scoring five goals without reply before the interval.

Eli Grant smashed them in front after only seven minutes, turning and firing home from 20 yards after the hosts had worked the ball to him through the middle of the pitch.

Ben Stallard then finished off a sweeping move from the Heathens to make it 2-0 in the 15th minute before Mapley scored the first of his two goals in the 29th minute, touching home a Matty Ayres’ corner.

Flackwell had been 3-0 up away at Thame United before pushing the self-destruct button and losing 4-3. There were no such concerns on Saturday as the chances and the goals continued to flow.

Jamie Ayres collected his own deflected shot and squared for Jack Shakespeare to make it 4-0 in the 34th minute before Mapley scored again to make it 5-0 before the break.

He would go close again, with a volley that whistled just wide of the post in the second half. But despite an improved second half performance from the visitors, Flackwell did take their tally to six in the 78th minute when Stallard’s strike from distance rebounded for Juwon Akintunde to poke home.

AFC Dunstable were hammered 6-0 by Flackwell on the opening day of last season and Ayres' side went on to finish in the play-off spots. They have more limited ambitions this season, but speaking to club media after the game, Mapley said he hopes the result and performance can spark an improved run of form.

“It was a good performance,” he said. “Credit to them. They continued to try and do the right things, playing out, but we had to stay focused at the back. I don’t think our keeper made a save.

“It’s one where it’s difficult to stay focused but as long as you’re doing the basics right and are making your chances count to punish them, that’s all you can do.

“I thought we played well, it’s difficult when the scoreline is quite big, and with the way the season has been going it’s difficult to stay motivated, but we must keep ticking over and make sure we’re doing the right things because those are the things that have been costing us.

“Yeah, hopefully, we want to be competitive and keep going. We need to keep doing the basics right and the results will start coming our way again. I thought I was going to score one of the best goals I’ve ever seen. Somehow, I was on a hat-trick, and it was a volley that nearly went in.

“The support was also good. It’s the first time I’ve played at home this year. It was good to see so many people here.”

Flackwell are back at home tomorrow evening (Tuesday) when they Biggleswade Town.