After watching his side suffer a disappointing 2-1 defeat at home to Penrith, manager Nathan Haslam acknowledged that Whitley had not been good enough in the final third and felt that was the major difference between the sides.
“I’d call it a bit of a smash and grab. We dictated long periods of the game, they scored a goal which was unfortunately from a mistake by us and we paid for that one, and again in the second half we were in control of the game then one our lads has slipped and it’s resulted in a corner from which they’ve scored.
“Yes they pushed and got a couple of breaks based on areas where we were a little bit exposed, but we mopped that up and we’ve pressed and pressed, and towards the end we threw the kitchen sink at them.
“You could say we’ve huffed and puffed and we haven’t been good enough in the final third. I think the introduction of Martindale and Colquhoun changed the game and bringing Sparky on, he put the ‘arrows’ in there for them.
“I think we’ve had the chances to win the game, there’s no doubt about it. Their keeper’s pulled off a very good save on one of them, a great save in fact, and I think he’s the reason why we haven’t got anything from the game.
“We’re getting punished for mistakes. It’s no secret, all season we’ve played some really good football, we’ve created chances but the return for that possession and chances isn’t good enough, it clearly isn’t. It’s up to me to try and do something about that and Martindale and Colquhoun are two young kids who’ve come in and they’ve definitely given me food for thought because every time they’ve come on as substitutes they’ve done more than I’d have expected, so we’re at that point where I think it’s time to give them a go. I just love their energy and I’m asking for that clinical side where we should always be looking to shoot. I think they’re going to give us that so it’s time to look at them. I think at the moment we’re too kind and we’re trying to pass the ball into the net.
“Sparky’s an experienced player and when I gives him instructions he’ll do that within his compass. We had lots of possession so I wasn’t worried about them being on the attack so it was perfect for Sparky to come on, not under pressure, and put the ball in the correct areas which is what he did, he did exactly what I wanted him to do. That said it was the same for the other two, they’ve come on and done what they were supposed to do.
“We’ve got to find a way to win consistently, it’s not always about the performance, possession and dominating games, we’ve got to be better in the attacking box.
“Penrith have made a long trip and they’ve done a job on us, they’ve found a way to win tonight despite not having much of the ball. They’ve been clinical in that final third and that’s the biggest thing in football.”
