March energy lifts home crowd against Newport Pagnell in United Counties League Premier Division South

March Town manager Ash Taylor felt his side's second-half display lifted the crowd at the GER on Saturday.

The Hares were forced to come from behind at the interval against Newport Pagnell before claiming all three points to consolidate their position in the UCL Premier Division South play-offs.

Speaking after the game, Taylor said: "It was good to see a lot of young lads in the crowd today with a drum and stuff like that and they were loud all game and made it a really good atmosphere.

"I think the way we got at them second half, the way we put pressure on the opposition got everyone going more and we often speak about trying to do that.

"Trying to create more around the goal creates more energy in the ground and I'm sure the supporters enjoyed that second-half performance."

Taylor will be looking for more of the same when his side entertains Histon on Saturday before entertaining St Neots in the Hinchingbrooke Cup on Tuesday night (February 18).

"We've got some tough games coming up," he admitted.

"Histon is next and that will be very similar to today. They are a real physical side with a direct approach.

"Last week was disappointing but we've kind of wiped that clean now and we lost to a good Eynesbury team on the day.

"We were excellent in the second half today and now the challenge is can the lads deliver that more consistently and that will be the message before the game against Histon."

March's tenth-placed visitors led at the break thanks to a goal from Nabil Shariff.

The home side made a triple change going into the second half and it had the desired effect with two of the three substitutions on the scoresheet against The Swans.

Toby Allen tapped home an equaliser from close range in the 69th minute before Craig Gillies fired home a penalty 12 minutes later to hand the home side all three points.

Taylor's side remain fourth in the league table, six points behind third-placed Rugby Town, but four points clear of Eynesbury Rovers in sixth.

"I'd say it was deserved on the whole game," said Taylor.

"It was a very tough game today on a difficult pitch, it was really heavy, and a lot of pitches are like that now.

"I'd say Pagnell were the better side in the first half. They took their moment and scored although we kept plugging away and trying to do the right things.

"I thought second half we were by far the better team. It was an excellent second half from the lads and I'm pleased for them.

"We had an idea of what we wanted to do today with the team we selected and it didn't really work if I'm being honest.

"We recognised that we needed more of a physical presence up top which is why Craig (Gillies) and Toby (Allen) came on along with Withers (Jack) in midfield where Pagnell had a good physical presence.

"We brought them on to change the game and it worked for us and credit to everyone for playing their part.

"The ball stuck a little bit better after the changes, it wasn't a pitch that allowed you to pass, pass and pass.

"That's what you want from your subs when you bring them on. I always say to them, go and show me why you should have started."

March Town: Street, Burrows, Brumby, Henderson (Withers 46), Emmington, Green, Saunders, Foy, Nicholas-Barfoot (Allen 46), Tait, Cotton (Gillies 46).