Direct line from the dugout
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Continued from page 4 From the time Kyle joined, I've caught up with him most weeks to prepare his report for the programme. We discussed the changes in the side as they happened, the good days and the bad days, problems arising, problems needed solving in the journey from 17 games with 9 points to 39 games and 41 points. What were the odds? So, this week, we first talked about last week’s match against a growing in strength Billingham Synthonia side and as always, I then just listened to Kyle and took the notes. “We probably made hard work of it, but we got the right result. In the first 15 they did reasonably well. We gave them confidence and we didn't take advantage of mistakes. The pitch was a bit bobbly and at half time, we had a few little words; the lads understood the importance of the situation. People expected us to win. They had done their homework; I respect them for that. We found ourselves under a little bit of pressure and when you don't create the chances and don't convert the ones you have, it creates more pressure. People were expecting the lads to go out and win. We got a positive reaction and no matter how it happened at this stage, we got the three points. In 21 games we got 32 points. Across the matches we’ve had games like this, where we keep working at it and we improve”. As we draw to the end of this season, I asked Kyle to summarise his thoughts. “In some ways it’s been easy for me coming in with an outsider point of view. The team was on a low. I had to get them to believe we could come back as a team and this would be through every single player’s strengths bringing individual performance and improving fitness. I am very proud of what they have done. Being top of the form table at this stage is a credit to the lads and everyone. We’ve been playing catch up and one better team as a group. Every player has improved. Getting the players back in the team, when I joined was so important having those senior players. We’ve the best goal scorers in Martyn, Tyler and Macca who have made a massive impact and Grant as a captain, is the best centre half in the league. Sometimes people don’t always what Andy Murray Jones’ work in set pieces does, defending, how he holds up play. Stockton are a good team. I learned a lesson that day. We played them and have changed our formation since then. Thank you to everyone for your support.”
BRUNTON PARK TUESDAY 8TH MAY K/O 7PM
CUMBERLAND COUNTY SENIOR CUP FINAL