CITY boss Steve Castle was delighted to see his players enjoying their football again during their 3-0 win over Basingstoke. The result was City s first win in 2009 and Castle says it s important that his players play with smiles on their faces. Castle to

CITY boss Steve Castle was delighted to see his players enjoying their football again during their 3-0 win over Basingstoke.

The result was City's first win in 2009 and Castle says it's important that his players play with smiles on their faces.

Castle told The Herts Advertiser: "It is important. Unfortunately we're all in the results business and it's great to enjoy your football. [With] competition football the only way you can enjoy it is by winning and we haven't won enough recently."

Two goals inside 10 minutes set City on their way to a vital three points and Castle says a good early start was something they had targeted.

"We were looking for a nice early start and we got that," said Castle.

"Yes, mistakes are made but we've had our fair share of mistakes that we've made that have cost us and I think they do say that it evens itself out over the season. We'll take that and we'll just kick on from there."

Gary Cohen and Paul Hakim impressed with their hard work up front and Castle says if his strike duo can repeat this form they will create plenty of chances.

"It was mentioned to them before the game, regardless of the score, that I want them to keep positive for 90 minutes and cause them problems and in fairness they did. If they can pressurise like that from now until the end of the season they'll get themselves more chances."

Castle also praised the midfield pairing of James Fisher and Soloman Shields for getting in the box and supporting the front two in recent games.

"I like him there [James Fisher]. He gets a bit of stick because he's one of my favourites. Bless him he's played in three, maybe four, positions for us this year. I like him in midfield. I like his freshness I like his eagerness to get on the ball and it's the icing on the cake that he scored a goal. I hasten to add that Sol [Shields] got one on Saturday as well. It's a little bit too much pressure at times to just rely on strikers to get goals and if we can spread it around I would be happy.

"It's really been unfortunate that we've lost Luke [Thurlbourne] and we haven't really been able to replace him. With every game that goes on I think Sol is slowly but surely that type of player that gets in where it hurts and intercepts things."

City also claimed their first clean sheet since the 0-0 draw at Hampton & Richmond on New Year's Day and Castle said it was down to a team effort.

"That's vital. I think everyone worked hard at it. We gave them a couple of chances but I think that's going to be inevitable over 90 minutes there's going to be a few. Paul Hakim got the Man of the Match but I thought people like James Quilter and Ben [Martin] were excellent.