Jim Bentley spoke with the media, following Saturday’s extra-time FA Trophy defeat at home to Harrogate Town.
The first question given to Bentley was regarding the weather, described as tough and windy conditions.
“It was exactly that. There was an unbelievable wind, I think that’s one of the coldest games I’ve ever been involved in and that played a big part. Both teams tried hard and did the best they could, but ultimately that played a big part in the game and a major factor in the goals.”
On the game itself, it was an extra-time stunner from Jack Muldoon that settled the match, following a 2-2 draw in normal time between the two sides.
“I don’t think we deserved to lose or should have lost,” Jim stated. “But, I can’t keep saying the same things. It probably was fair that it went to extra-time. Both teams have had to make a couple of saves and had some chances, but I thought we took control in the second half and were on top.
“We take the lead from a corner which we knew would be difficult for them to defend as we had to do it in the first half, so again you’re planning for the wind, it was that bad. They then did to us what we did to them when they got the chance to in extra time.”
Having gone into the lead early in the second half, the Coasters looked relatively comfortable in the tough conditions facing them. However, a two-minute ‘wobble’ was costly, as the visitors netted twice in quick succession.
“My main concern is the wobble we had when we were well on top. We should have been two or three up, we had a big shout for a penalty and further chances. We then conceded one and straight away had a massive wobble to concede a second so quickly, that’s my biggest problem, the way we conceded two goals in that way. We crumbled.”
With the focus now solely on remaining in the Vanarama National League, Bentley stated that he feels his side need to be more ‘robust’ as they look to gain enough points over the next 13 games to stay in the division.
“We need to be more robust, clear our lines and get our foot in,” the Manager explained. “We can’t be diving in and having white shirts just flying everywhere as the ball will end up in the net. When we came into the club we had seven clean sheets in our first 10 games, but since then there’s been some terrible decisions that have cost us.
“We’re making too many poor decisions that are costing goals. We’ve been in every single game bar the one last week at Dover, but all the others have been nip and tuck, really really tight. In those games we’ve sacrificed leads and given goals away.
“That needs to change, beginning with Notts County.”
