Northwich Victoria top scorer Mark Danks believes he can get better

Source: Northwich Guardian

1:30pm Thursday 22nd October 2009

NORTHWICH Victoria’s leading scorer says his teammates will not be daunted by facing FC United of Manchester for a place in the first round of the FA Cup.

Mark Danks, who has hit the net eight times in Vics’ two cup clashes to date, told the Guardian the hosts would do nothing different in preparing to face Karl Marginson’s men.

“It’s just another game we want to win,” he said.

“The lads haven’t talked any more about this one then other matches we’ve played this season, but that’s because we want to beat whoever play against.

“But we know we can’t afford to take them lightly. They’ve got attacking players who are more than useful as they have proven in the last round when they put out Stalybridge.”

Danks’ FA Cup form has been more than useful too.

The 25-year-old scored a treble against Chorley at the previous stage, earning him a second successive nomination for the FA Cup E.ON Player of the Round prize.

He missed out to Hinckley United front runner Mark Webster in the final reckoning.

But Danks stressed there are more important matters on his mind.

He said: “It would have been nice to win the award twice in a row because it gives you recognition as a player, but I won’t be getting carried away.

“People are talking about me at the moment and that’s great, but I know how quickly things can change.

“I’m really grateful for the fans’ support that helped me win the award after we beat Bardon Hill.”

A second half penalty in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Ilkeston Town took his season tally to 14 goals in league and cup.

He has scored in each of Vics’ past seven matches.

“I can’t think of a team I would rather be playing in at the moment,” added Danks.

“I’m enjoying every minute.

“The manager knows how to get the best out of me from our time together at Worcester City and it’s working well again at the moment.

“He says I can get better and he’s right. I’ve been working hard on my strength, plus my decision-making in the final third can be better.

“I know that though know I need to carry on producing the goods to stay in the team.

“It’s difficult for anybody to get back in at the moment but with people like Junior Brown to come back and now that Jon Newby is fully fit then the gaffer knows he has lots of options.”

The draw with the Robins’ last weekend stopped Vics’ winning streak at six, equalling their feat during the run-in at the end of last season.

Danks admits it’s one that got away after Ilkeston played more than an hour with ten men following Charlie O’Loughlin’s dismissal.

“We were disappointed with each other [after the game] because we knew we should have won,” he said.

“I think we had 20 shots on target or something daft like that, then their keeper has the best game I’ve probably ever seen by anybody!

“It was annoying for me on a personal level though because I missed two or three chances I would have put my house on me taking.

“Still, it was nice to get the penalty to keep my run going.”