Mark Burke's in-form Canaries thrashed visitors Alvechurch 5-1 in the opening league game of the 2020-21 season.

The well-respected Top Field boss spoke to Hitchin Nub News after the game to share his post-match thoughts.

Read on for the full transcript.

Hitchin Nub News: What a start to the season?

Mark Burke:It is definitely better to win 5-1 than to lose 5-1, that's for sure. We've worked tremendously hard during pre-season. But it wouldn't count for anything unless we got off to a good start. Thankfully we did. Sometimes fortune goes your way. We actually started a little bit nervous and Alvechurch put us under pressure.

Luckily we got our penalty which Layne dispatched well. Then Callum got our second.

HNN:What did you make of their sending off?

Mark Burke: I have to admit I didn't see it. The left-back perhaps showed a little bit of indiscipline and perhaps cost them the game to be honest. If you look at the second half, they've actually got back to 2-1 and the result could have been different.

HNN: The third goal was vital…

Mark Burke:The timing of our third goal was vital. Straight after they scored. To make it 3-1 to deflate them after being on a little high after their goal was vital. It definitely increased our motivation levels. Once we got that third goal it got us back in the swing of things and I think we played some really good stuff and really enjoyed it.

HNN:It was a good attacking display from your boys today…

Mark Burke:We worked really hard in pre-season. We worked on going forward. The boys have taken it on board really well and we demonstrated that today.

HNN: Callum Stead has done well again hasn't he…?

Mark Burke: Who? Never heard of him [laughs]. No, listen, he's been on fire recently hasn't he? He's followed on from his two against Barnet last week with another two today. What I like about him is that he works tremendously hard as well. His hard work has been rewarded today. One of our themes is that you've got to work hard. You've got to work hard. If you lose but have given your all then that's all you can ask of a player and a team. I'm not going to criticize anyone for working hard. Nor are the fans. If the fans see you strolling around and not working hard then that's a different matter. They won't be happy and nor will I. But Callum has done tremendously well. I've got a great group of lads who have bought into what we're trying to do and at the moment we've made a great start. But it's early days. It's very early.

HNNHe didn't mean his second goal did he?

Mark Burke:[Laughs] Nah! He might try and tell us it was meant for the top corner but in all honesty it was a bit flukey. He won't admit that though will he!

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