Manager Andy Gowens, while happy with the players’ attitude, felt that little mistakes proved costly in the defeat by championship chasing Marske United. “I think for quite a lot of the game we really competed against them and opened them up at times, although I thought we weren’t at it really in most the first half and I gave them a bit of a rocket at half time. In the second half we changed the formation a bit and we were a lot better. We were really in the game and at 1-1 it could have gone either way. We got a great chance but their keeper pulled off a ‘worldie’ save from David (Hall). Then from that they broke away and scored and its 2-1. It was a little mistake by Jack (Walker) – who’s been excellent in the last few games – and we got punished. I think the heads went down a bit then. It’s a little bit of a problem and we had a discussion about it in the changing rooms afterwards about sticking to the task and not getting despondent. And then of course the last two goals, two ricochets, yet again!”
“We’re getting punished for silly little mistakes at crucial times of the game. I cannot fault their effort in the second half. I thought we did really well and kept at it right to the end. It wasn’t a 4-1 game.” Praising Marske, Gowens added “They’re a good side and I think they’ll go on and win the league. They opened us up a couple of times in the first half but as we came into the game we competed with them and played some good stuff on a sticky pitch. You can’t fault the players’ attitude. We probably need just that one result!”
Callum Harley, deputising for Tom Flynn, was named man of the match and he impressed his manager. “Callum did really well, he pulled off some fantastic saves, and of course he’s still young. It’s a shame for us that he’s off to sunnier climes in America in the summer, where he’s got a scholarship, which is great for him of course.”
