Positives In Defeat For Steve
Tue 24th November 2015 | Colne | By Ian Templeman
Despite going out of the FA Vase on Saturday at the hands of Newton Aycliffe, Colne manager Steve Cunningham is focussing on the positive points to emerge from the game.
Colne were 2-0 and 3-1 down and battled back to make it 3-3 before Jason Hart hit the post in the last minute. In extra time, a controversial penalty and a cracking 25 yard effort saw the visitors through to a 5-3 win, but Steve was full of praise for the way his team performed.
"I am disappointed as I really do believe we were the better side on Saturday", he said. "We got beaten so we just have to dust ourselves down and move on, but there were some massive positives to take from the game.
"We have got a big squad, lads haven't been getting many minutes and the lads who came in had an impact on the game. Kenny Taylor, Ben Allen and Adam Stockdale all came on and I thought they all did well, and they have not played much recently.
"But I think the biggest positive for me was the fitness side of it. We hadn't played for three weeks, and at times we've not been able to train, but our fitness levels were the best I've seen.
"Also, the character of the team shone through and what I know I have got is a team of battlers, and a team that can deal with pressure.
"If we are going to be up there at the end of the season in our league, you have got to have that, and I saw that in abundance".
Colne now have two more cup games this week, and with his side at the top of the Premier Division, Steve is conscious that a backlog of league fixtures can quickly arise if success in cup competitions continues.
"There is fine balance between going for cups and the league. You look at Glossop last year, they went for everything and could have cost themselves near the end, as they were blowing a little bit.
"We have two more cup games to come now, up at Holker in the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy and then on Saturday against Squires Gate in the MEN United Cup.
"If we can compete on all fronts we will do, and anyone who saw Saturday's game will know we wanted to win that game, no doubt about it.
"But we do just want to get on with some league games now. We know what out targets are, and just because we are where we are in the league, that doesn't mean to say we are going to win it.
"The club has never been in this position before, and we have got a good chance in the league, and that is what we really want this year".
Positives In Defeat For Steve
Tue 24th November 2015 | Colne
By Ian Templeman
Despite going out of the FA Vase on Saturday at the hands of Newton Aycliffe, Colne manager Steve Cunningham is focussing on the positive points to emerge from the game.
Colne were 2-0 and 3-1 down and battled back to make it 3-3 before Jason Hart hit the post in the last minute. In extra time, a controversial penalty and a cracking 25 yard effort saw the visitors through to a 5-3 win, but Steve was full of praise for the way his team performed.
"I am disappointed as I really do believe we were the better side on Saturday", he said. "We got beaten so we just have to dust ourselves down and move on, but there were some massive positives to take from the game.
"We have got a big squad, lads haven't been getting many minutes and the lads who came in had an impact on the game. Kenny Taylor, Ben Allen and Adam Stockdale all came on and I thought they all did well, and they have not played much recently.
"But I think the biggest positive for me was the fitness side of it. We hadn't played for three weeks, and at times we've not been able to train, but our fitness levels were the best I've seen.
"Also, the character of the team shone through and what I know I have got is a team of battlers, and a team that can deal with pressure.
"If we are going to be up there at the end of the season in our league, you have got to have that, and I saw that in abundance".
Colne now have two more cup games this week, and with his side at the top of the Premier Division, Steve is conscious that a backlog of league fixtures can quickly arise if success in cup competitions continues.
"There is fine balance between going for cups and the league. You look at Glossop last year, they went for everything and could have cost themselves near the end, as they were blowing a little bit.
"We have two more cup games to come now, up at Holker in the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy and then on Saturday against Squires Gate in the MEN United Cup.
"If we can compete on all fronts we will do, and anyone who saw Saturday's game will know we wanted to win that game, no doubt about it.
"But we do just want to get on with some league games now. We know what out targets are, and just because we are where we are in the league, that doesn't mean to say we are going to win it.
"The club has never been in this position before, and we have got a good chance in the league, and that is what we really want this year".
