Post Match Reaction From The MEN United Cup Final
Wed 11th May 2016 | Macron Cup | By Ian Templeman
Atherton Collieries captain Mark Battersby: "After the pain of last year in the same competition, there's a lot of relief tonight.
"It was a brilliant performance by all the lads, apart from a little bit of a lapse of concentration on the half time whistle, when we let them back in and it was the one chance they had all half."But credit to the lads, they came back out and put a performance in like that.
"Our pitch at Alder House is nothing like this, and to come and play on a pitch like this we could really show what we are about.
"They are the league champions and we are unbeaten against them all season".
Atherton Collieries Assistant Manager Warren Jones: "We wanted to go in with a high tempo, and try and press from the start and get the early goal if we could.
"We knew we had the best strike force in the league who have scored the most goals, that is where we are strong, and we played to our strengths.
"We worked really hard off the ball, we always had Jordan Cover with pace in behind and we really stretched them and hit well on the counter attack.
"Their keeper pulled off some great saves, although he will be disappointed with a couple of the goals, but he kept the score down in the end, and made two great saves in one-on-ones".
Colne manager Steve Cunningham: "For us, I think the game came just too soon after a great weekend. I'm not going to make any excuses, but we were missing seven players that are big players for us.
"Technically I thought we were the better footballing side, we had a lot of possession of the ball. But fair play to Colls, they have had the better of us every time we've played them.
"I am a winner, I want to win every game, but sometimes you've got to know the occasion and at a certain point in that game I just realised it wasn't going to be for us.
"But the fans have enjoyed it, they were absolutely superb, even at 5-1 down they were singing their hearts out, and it's a football club I'm just immensely proud to be the manager of.
"The scoreline will hurt people, it's hurt me, but now it's about being fully focussed on our plans for being in the Evo-Stik League North, and I am dead excited about that.
"We are happy with our trophy, they (Colls) are happy with theirs and we move on to next season".
Post Match Reaction From The MEN United Cup Final
Wed 11th May 2016 | Macron Cup
By Ian Templeman
Atherton Collieries captain Mark Battersby: "After the pain of last year in the same competition, there's a lot of relief tonight.
"It was a brilliant performance by all the lads, apart from a little bit of a lapse of concentration on the half time whistle, when we let them back in and it was the one chance they had all half."But credit to the lads, they came back out and put a performance in like that.
"Our pitch at Alder House is nothing like this, and to come and play on a pitch like this we could really show what we are about.
"They are the league champions and we are unbeaten against them all season".
Atherton Collieries Assistant Manager Warren Jones: "We wanted to go in with a high tempo, and try and press from the start and get the early goal if we could.
"We knew we had the best strike force in the league who have scored the most goals, that is where we are strong, and we played to our strengths.
"We worked really hard off the ball, we always had Jordan Cover with pace in behind and we really stretched them and hit well on the counter attack.
"Their keeper pulled off some great saves, although he will be disappointed with a couple of the goals, but he kept the score down in the end, and made two great saves in one-on-ones".
Colne manager Steve Cunningham: "For us, I think the game came just too soon after a great weekend. I'm not going to make any excuses, but we were missing seven players that are big players for us.
"Technically I thought we were the better footballing side, we had a lot of possession of the ball. But fair play to Colls, they have had the better of us every time we've played them.
"I am a winner, I want to win every game, but sometimes you've got to know the occasion and at a certain point in that game I just realised it wasn't going to be for us.
"But the fans have enjoyed it, they were absolutely superb, even at 5-1 down they were singing their hearts out, and it's a football club I'm just immensely proud to be the manager of.
"The scoreline will hurt people, it's hurt me, but now it's about being fully focussed on our plans for being in the Evo-Stik League North, and I am dead excited about that.
"We are happy with our trophy, they (Colls) are happy with theirs and we move on to next season".
