Martin Wild speaks to Dave Hibbert after Town's 3-1 Boxing Day win over Stockport County

Dave Hibbert took his goal tally for the season into double figures with a decisive third goal in the Boxing Day victory over 10-man Stockport.

The striker's cool spot kick four minutes from time made it three wins in a row for a resurgent Town team who have now also won the last four at Oteley Road.

"Wins are all that matters at the moment. That's three on the bounce now and I thought we thoroughly deserved the points today," he said.

"Wins breed confidence and the more wins we get will obviously help that confidence grow. It's great for me personally as a young lad that Cookey's back. He's been there and done it and he helps me a great deal. I was gutted when he got injured but now he's back and scoring goals again it would be nice to get a partnership going."

Hit-man Hibbert recognised the chances that the side were creating now, after a barren spell where Town struggled to find their form going into the winter months. The last three games have yielded nine goals and seven of those have come from open-play.

"Yeah we're creating the chances but we're taking enough of them to win games, that's the most important thing," he said.

County were already a goal adrift when they became the fifth team this season to have a man red-carded at the new stadium. But Jim Gannon's side kept the hungry Shrews at bay before grabbing a shock leveller with only 18 minutes left. I asked Hibbert what his view of the sending off was, and whether he thought it was going to be Mansfield re-visited when the equaliser went in.

"I didn't think it was a sending off to be honest. I didn't know if he'd already been booked (it was a straight red). I thought it was harsh to say the least and probably only deserved a yellow. But I don't think it affected the result in any way. I thought we were on top and I thought we would win even when they came back."

A record crowd for a league game packed into the stadium with 7,707 paying customers. The atmosphere created by the partisan home support was appreciated by the centre forward and he hoped to see some of them return to back the team in its efforts to move up the table.

"It was a great atmosphere today. It makes a big difference when they all get behind us. It was nice to see them all coming in and I hope they enjoyed it. Their lad scored a great goal but it was their only chance all game really. Thankfully, Chris Humphrey's put in a great ball which Benji's finished off with a great header and then the pen at the end has really killed them off.

"Chris looks better for his time out on loan (at Stafford Rangers). He's got great pace and no-one can live with him when he gets going, he's frightening. No-one can handle his pace and he's one who's really pleasing on the eye. When he puts in a shift like that he's really dangerous."

The wing backs in Herd and Tierney, and out and out wingers like Pugh and Humphreys give Town an added threat in attack, and it's no coincidence that the side are creating a steady stream of chances particularly in home games.

"The more balls we get in the box is great from our point of view. Strikers thrive on service and quality balls in. We've seen that today with Benji's header from a great cross. You're bound to score more goals if the quality on the crosses gets better."

Wycombe Wanderers provide the next stern test for Gary Peters' men. A fifth successive home victory would make for the perfect Christmas if you are of the blue and amber persuasion.

"Absolutely. With Wycombe and Peterborough the next two games, if we can go unbeaten through Christmas that would be another big plus for us," said Hibbert.

Ten goals before the halfway mark, was the ex-Preston man halfway towards his personal target yet?

"I set myself a target every season but I'm keeping it close to my chest to be honest," he told me. "It's great to get into double figures though, and hopefully there'll be many more to come."

Town's new found confidence may not have exactly propelled them up the league two table, as teams around them continue to pick up points. But there's a whiff of the 'P' word lingering in the Shropshire air as we approach New Year. Just be careful not to mention it when the gaffer's in earshot!