BOSS Marc Richards reckons Gloucester City’s surge away from the National South danger zone can be attributed to boosted confidence.

City, who groundshare at Evesham United’s Jubilee Stadium, made it 17 points from nine matches since the turn of the year with a 1-0 home win over Chippenham Town on Monday.

Ex-Evesham loanee Ethan Moore scrambled in from a corner with 12 minutes to go to settle a tight contest of few chances.

“The game could have gone either way,” said Richards. “They were better than us in certain spells and we rode our luck.

“James (Hamon, goalkeeper) pulled off a really good save at 0-0 and it was great to see the boys find a way to get over the line.

“It is so pleasing the boys are buying into everything we are doing. We are doing well at the moment and I think it has been down to confidence. Before Christmas we had been performing well without getting the results.”

On Saturday, City travel to Eastbourne Borough (3pm) hoping to add to a 12-point cushion over the bottom three.

“We are looking forward to it. It is on a 3G and that tends to suit the boys, we have some good technical players in the squad,” added Richards.

“They are still scrapping in the bottom half and we know it will be a tough one, like every game is in this league.

“Anyone can beat anyone. Fingers crossed, we can go and get another three points on the road.”