So, what was going through Joe Hafferty’s mind as he cut toward the near post for Kieran Sargeant’s low cross in stoppage time on Saturday night?

“Don’t miss,” Hafferty said with a laugh.  

Good news for Hafferty and his Lexington SC teammates, he didn’t. The 27-year-old’s second goal of the season lifted LSC to a 2-1 win against Oakland Roots SC, its third consecutive victory in league play.

That run – and the move into fifth place in the Western Conference that it’s delivered – has come through a combination of faith and confidence that’s been building within the Championship newcomer this season. Hafferty knew where to be, because that’s the way it’s supposed to work when everything’s clicking for Lexington in the final third.

“All the work’s been done at that point,” he added. “Just make contact and trust my teammates. I saw Kieran making the run, I knew he was going to get there. He’s quick. He gets to the end zone all the time, so just got to trust my teammates to be at the right spot and the rest will take care of itself.”

After the euphoria of its opening night win to the lengthy winless streak that followed, Lexington’s had to come through plenty to reach this point. Over its last nine games in the league, Head Coach Terry Boss’ squad has got a 6-1-2 record – only the Charleston Battery have won more games since June 13 – and a real chance at not just a first trip to the postseason but a home game when November arrives.

There’s still plenty of work to do over the final nine weeks of the regular season, but the plan is starting to pay off consistently.

“We know how we want to play,” said Hafferty. “We try to execute it. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t. It worked out that time and I was in the right place, right time.”

Here are this week’s rankings.