Coventry Sphinx manager Luke Hopkins said he was relieved after his side came from two goals down to beat Walsall Wood on Saturday.
Hopkins told the Sphinx website: "We made changes to the starting eleven for a number of reasons -people returning, lads on holiday and in general to get a reaction of freshening up the team.
"Walsall Wood are a strong team who like to play, they have a well drilled formation and system they use well and it worked for 20 minutes against us.
"I felt the first goal was hand ball and but the referee didn’t see it, being in the wrong half of the pitch with the assistant was on the other side of the pitch no help, but play to the whistle is probably the phrase that springs to mind.
"The second goal came quick and we couldn’t settle. Perhaps, this was a result of a bad twenty minutes from us coming off a bad week, and also their target man, who I must say is very good, gave our back four a tough time and e rode our luck a touch with them hitting the post and bar before half time came.
"Half time gave us a chance to re-group, discuss the situation as adults and go from there, .
An early goal always helps and it was only last week that we were 2-0 up and lost 3-2 so the lads knew it was possible that if we turned up and started to give it a go.
“Piggs brought us back into the game straight away, with a good finish. Five minutes in, we made changes and It was Luke Downes with the equaliser so it was game on.
“Walsall found themselves down to 10 and then 9, which did help us and it was Lewis McBride who was brought down in the box. It could have been another red but after a long delay and messing about, Piggs put the ball in the net for 3-2.
“I’m relieved and have a lot to think about and get the lads to work on this week in training. Although we were two down early on I don’t think there is too much wrong and it’s little tweaks we need to make that will have a knock on effect and improve us.
“The strength of the bench on Saturday has signalled the quality and depth we have as a squad and proved that we are going forward as a team.
“A massive plus for us was getting minutes into Mitch Thompson, he was ever present and hitting some good form in pre-season but pulled up in the last training session on the eve of the season. He was back on Saturday and will add competition for places which can be good in a team.
“That was a big win and restored some faith within the players.”