Blackstones beat Birstall United in United Counties League Division One clash
A super second half showing helped Blackstones regain the winning feeling with a home victory against Birstall United on Saturday.
Stones struck five times in the second period to end a run of four games without a win in the United Counties League Division One clash.
Mark Baines' side had played into a strong head-wind in the opening period and trailed to Ethan Bibby's fine free-kick which gave the visitors the lead midway through the first half.
However, Herbie Panting got Stones back on level terms six minutes after the restart with an equally impressive strike which was followed shortly after by a penalty from Will Bird.
Sam Wilson then started and ended the move for Stones' third goal before Kieran Blanchard added a fourth.
Although Dion Potter pulled a goal back for Birstall, Bird nodded home his second and Stones' fifth of the afternoon to leave boss Baines thrilled with his side's second half showing.
He commented: "I said to the boys before the game that we needed to be doing week in, week out what we had done at Long Buckby last Saturday.
"I thought we didn't make enough right choices in the first half and we were a bit lethargic. I told the lads at half-time that I expected better.
"I thought we could find more and the second half showed that because we were absolutely fantastic.
"We looked much more threatening going forward and were much better defensively.
"We also took our chances because we were carving through them by the end
"I was so happy with the performance. It is only three points, but I feel that we're in a good place now."
Stones had been the first side to go close to breaking the deadlock in the early exchanges when Bogdan Masnita just failed to convert at the back post from Dan Wilson's cross.
Bibby then threatened at the other with the first of his free-kicks from distance which went just over the home crossbar while home goalkeeper Simon Dalton had to be alert to save at the feet of Paul Pallett.
After his initial sighter, Bibby then fired the visitors into a 21st minute lead as he stepped up to curl a 25-yard free-kick over the home wall and beyond Dalton's despairing dive.
Stones responded swiftly and Bird was denied at close range by Birstall goalkeeper Charlie Doherty following Masnita's intelligent cross to the back post.
Harry Peasgood was also twice denied by the Birstall goalkeeper to ensure the visitors held the advantage at the break.
Dalton did well to deny Potter early in the second half before Stones equalised in the 53rd minute.
Panting had started the initial move with a cracking pass down the touchline where Bird forced a corner.
The short flag kick was played back to Panting who arrowed his run towards goal before firing home a superb left-footed strike.
It was Stones' first goal after two successive blank games and the equaliser lifted the shackles off the home side.
Centre-half Harry Fitzjohn burst into the box where he was upended by Nkosinathi Ncube and Bird - who had been forced to borrow boss Baines boots after splitting his own - sent Doherty the wrong way from the spot kick.
Birstall looked for an instant leveller and it needed a superb save from Dalton to deny Pallett as he pushed his goalbound effort away for a corner.
Sam Wilson headed clear the near post corner and, after a cracking break led by substitute Daniel Gargan, Wilson raced to the other end of the pitch to collect the pass and slide home a fine finish into the bottom corner.
Stones were now rampant and Gargan forced an error in the Birstall defence before teeing up Blanchard who sent his close range finish into the roof of the empty net.
Birstall threw themselves a lifeline when Pallett played the ball into the path of Potter who dinked his finish over the advancing Dalton to make it 4-2.
But Stones had the final say on proceedings when Bird chased a lost cause and was rewarded by winning a corner for the home side.
Bradlee Page's corner kick was perfectly flighted to the back post where Bird rose highest to head home Stones' fifth goal.
The home side could have increased their tally further as substitute Josh Brown shot over after a slick move before Bird was denied his hat-trick by a finger-tip save from Doherty as Stones made an emphatic return to winning ways.
Boss Baines added: "Every time that we have conceded first, we have flopped but this time we have gone behind and then scored five goals.
"It has been tough in some games recently, but in the last two matches I have seen a squad of players work so hard for each other.
"The lads who came off the bench have done a job as well so it's not just the 11 but the 14.
"Individual talent doesn't always mean as much as a collective 11 and the thing that I also liked was that, after every goal we scored, they all celebrated together.
"We are in it together and I think that is a good sign."
Stones are back in action again on Wednesday night when seventh-placed Huntingdon Town are the visitors to the Torney Ltd Stadium.
Stones: Dalton, Tomkins, D Wilson, Panting, Peasgood, Fitzjohn, Masnita (Brown), S Wilson, Bird, Brown (Gargan), Blanchard (Page).
