REACTIONS: NWCFL Managers give their thoughts on their NWCFL First Division North and South results

Sun 26th January 2020 | Match Reviews | By Craig Kendall

NWCFL First Division North

AFC Darwen manager Kenny Langford, "It was a great first 20 minutes for the fans but not for myself and Richard the opposition manager.

"After that, it was a battle between two good footballing sides. Both keepers kept the scoreline down with some great saves in the second half. A great advert for North West Counties Football." 

Holker Old Boys manager Kevin Watkin, "The lads followed up their two previous performances with another strong showing. The first half was very stop-start with the referee breaking the game up frequently at the frustrations of both teams but we managed to punish Bacup taking two of our chances. 

"The second half was tough, with Bacup pushing down the hill I didn't feel overly threatened and we showed maturity to manage the game and see it through.

"The lads are pushing each other hard and that has been rewarded with the last three results and with how compact the league table is any good run of form can make a big difference."

Bacup Borough manager Brent Peters, "It’s always a difficult game up at Holker and it’s usually a game of two halves due to the slope. So during that first period, we knew that they would be a lot of defending to do. I thought we dealt with the pressure well but as always happens with us we often seem to make uncharacteristic mistakes and that’s exactly what happened for the first goal.

"I felt that if Davison Banda would’ve adjusted his body position better he would have cleared the danger. Instead, he opted to dangle his leg at it, missed the ball and gave the forward the license to run through on goal and slot it clinically passed Harry.

"After that just before half-time, another situation came. A situation that disappointed me. The ball has been allowed to come across our goal from our left side. I can accept the ball coming into the box because the player marking out on the left was Brad Hancock and he was carrying a hip injury and was substituted at the break. What I can’t defend is the way the full-back as managed to get away from Anthony Hall at the back post and get their second goal. It should’ve never happened in a month of Sundays. We were in a comfortable position, two on one and Anthony has switched off and allowed the lad to get away. 

"We changed things a bit in the second half to complement the fact we were going down the slope. We were forced into changes with injuries to Brad and Anthony by replacing them with Milo Ogden and Joel giving us more attacking options and putting pressure on Holkers rearguard.

"We did have a lot of possession in the second half but we couldn't break them down. We huffed and puffed but couldn’t find a way to score, and unfortunately, the game fizzled out.

"You could say that the game was one of fine margins and yet again individual mistakes have cost us in the end. I think we dealt well with the physicality of Holker but the disappointment comes from our decision making. And coming away with nothing wasn’t a good feeling but I can’t remember the last time we gained a point up there. 

"We can’t feel sorry for ourselves. So we brush ourselves down and go again."

Nelson manager Andy Harrison, "We started a bull in a china shop and I don't think Prestwich realised what had hit them. We went 1-0 up after 20 minutes and should have made it 2-0 within minutes of going ahead but the ball just evaded Yves by a fraction.

"Prestwich got a grip of the game then and a great ball in which we failed to close down was headed in by Reece Lindon who had the freedom of the box. So it was disappointing from our defensive point of view but a great header none the less.

"Ten minutes later they've gone down the right and a pretty nothing ball into the box has cannoned off Nath he just couldn't adjust his feet quick enough and were 2-1 down.  

"Their keeper in the second half has made save of the season from Ollie's header to keeper it 2-1 but apart from that, we didn't lay a glove which was extremely disappointing. They capped off a pretty professional performance with one minute to go but again we were masters of our downfall as we failed to clear the ball from them taking it into the corner.  

"It's been a bad month or two for us, but there is some pretty exciting news that will come out soon in regards to the off the pitch stuff at Nelson. So, all in all, I'm not concerned at all - the future is bright for us I'm sure. Well done to Matt and the Heys lads and all the best for rest of the season."

Prestwich Heys First team coach Mark Dickinson, "It was a hard-fought win for us against a very gritty and competitive Nelson side. We worked hard after going one down to get our selves level and stuck at it throughout the first half to go 2-1 up.

"I felt we deserved to go in with the lead. We asked for a reaction at half time and reinforced our key points and principles of play and to the lads, credit they were superb in the second half battled for every first and second ball made good decisions in and out of possession and worked themselves into the ground to get it over the line.

"A superb save from Russ Saunders to keep us in the lead and in the final stages a superb solo effort from Jamie Hill to put us 3-1 and kill the game.

"All in all, another top performance that justifies why we are currently top of the form league." 

Shelley manager Ash Berry, "A slow start from us as Chadderton were best for the first 15 minutes but then on 20 minutes, we scored and then upped the tempo in the second half, dominated and took our chances.

"Credit to Chadderton who never have up and tried to play football and they are a great set of people."

Chadderton manager David Fish, "The better team won on the day, Shelley was disciplined, worked harder than us and took their goals well. But for Jordan Hadlow, it could have been a much worse result. 

"We started well but missed two good opportunities in the opening ten minutes. We conceded a goal which looked offside and came after a clear foul on our full back and that knocked the wind out of our sails and from that point we were second best.

"The most disappointing aspect of the game was our capitulation after going 2 down. We lacked pride and leadership on the pitch. Out character has been good for the last month so that response was surprising."

Steeton manager Roy Mason, "I thought we were poor first half today and the scoreline reflected the performance at half-time.

"We were much better in the second half and we looked a different side - but we need to play for 90, not just 45 minutes."   

Ashton Town manager Lee Bignell, "The lads were brilliant yesterday so full credit to them. We have had a bit to contend with this last month or so.

" Ans the lads have been spot on so it was good to get the win at Steeton and put it all behind us and hopefully kick on now."

NWCFL First Division South

Abbey Hey manager Terry Hincks, "Disappointed is an understatement. We dominated for large periods of the game without punishing the opponents. All credit to Alsager, who are a much-improved side under the new management team so good luck to them for the rest of the season." 

Alsager Town manager Stuart Tulloch, "The lads have done well today. They picked up a valuable point against a very well drilled Abbey Hey team. We scored against the run of play with a tremendous strike from Christian Soda. 

"We set up to be hard to break down and score on the counter and Abbey played some fantastic two touch football first half but we couldn't keep them at bay until the half time whistle - a penalty was given which wasn't in my opinion but that's football. 

"The final pass/killer ball lacked from both teams but overall a point gained but Abbey are a very good team and last time we played them we lost 3-0 so were moving in the right direction."

Barnton manager Neil Murray, "We’re taking steps forward and we are going in the right direction again.

"We are positive and confident in the final third, scoring twice with great play going forward. Our link-up play looked great and we look like creating something every time we had the ball with confidence in possession growing. Off the ball, we were busy pressing and forcing errors, whilst our shape looked good too. 

"On another day we take all three points, we’ve dominated the game and come away with nothing. 

"Questionable decisions from the officials as there was a handball involved in Maine Roads leveller and the penalty conceded was soft as the referee was so eager to give the penalty, but no arguments on their third. The kid can hit 100 volleys like that again and will never find the top bin like he did today.

"Our lads can walk away knowing that we did everything today, a tough on to take."

Maine Road manager Ray Barnet, "We knew this would be a much different fixture than the reverse game. Barnton made four good signings in the week and we had lost three lads to injury. The pitch wasn't in great shape but not many are this time of year so this would be a strong test of our character.

"Barnton started the brighter up the hill and deservedly went 1-0 up, we couldn't get our passing game going as we took time to adapt to the sticky mud in the middle of the park and drew level with a great strike from Jack Coop. Whilst we were settling into the game I still felt Barnton had the edge and went ahead again with a good finish following some good build-up play. The game was now quite even end to end football and we drew level with a Jack Coop penalty after Danny Burgess was brought down in the box and then took the lead with what would be a contender for goal of the season as Oscar Campbell struck a volley from 20 yards out and smashed into the top corner. The half finished with no more chances but it was a decent game given the conditions.

"We knew Barnton would try and use the two wingers with the downhill slope and set up to stop that and did that well, Barnton almost equalised as a pass back to keeper Conrad Betton on his wrong foot and under pressure saw a poor clearance straight to a Barnton player who shot into what he must have thought was an empty net but somehow with an incredible reaction Conrad recovered and at full stretch made the save and Louis Edwards cleared the danger, we were playing much better football up the hill than down the hill and Jack Coop almost sealed his hattrick with a great effort that rattled the crossbar. We defended magnificently in the second half and kept Barnton out as they chased the equaliser.

"This was a big test today and so pleased we came through it as the pitch didn't suit our normal style of play and tested our character but it was one of those games that both management teams would say they just edged it, fortunately, it went our way today."

Cammell Laird 1907 manager Phil Burton, "A great game for the neutrals with nine goals but it wasn't because of great offensive play, just basic poor defending from front to back from both sides.

"The game itself was, in general, a shocking standard of football again from both sides. A game I just want to forgot and move on. But big improvements needed from my players and quick."

New Mills manager David Birch, "It was the craziest first half I've seen in a while!

"We defended poorly in the first half but looked dangerous going forward and could have scored five or six!

"Second half we dominated and scored two good goals! Happy with the three points though."

Cheadle Heath Nomads manager, "Today was probably the worst second half I have seen from this team all season. At half time at 1-0 down we were still in the game but second half we were second to every ball and individual errors killed the game for us.

"Well done to West Didsbury, worked hard all game and deserved the win. "

Stockport Town manager Adam Jones, "Gutted doesn't even come close. We dominated the second half in all areas in the pitch only to lose to a mistake is a tough pill to swallow."

Eccleshall manager Kyle Adams, "It was not a great result obviously but everything we deserved in truth. We were poor all over the park and it was just one of those days where everyone was off their game.

"I don't want to discredit Wythenshawe's performance though either as they were excellent. We spoke beforehand about the fact that if we didn't perform they're a side that can turn you over and unfortunately for us it proved to be the case. It was a disastrous day and one to be forgotten."

Wythenshawe Amateurs manager Mark Ivison, "Tuesday's momentum continued into today's game and we were under no illusions what a tough test Eccleshall was going to present us with.

"However a well-disciplined performance saw us home with goals from Atiade, Hamil, Howard and Boyles - a well-earned 3pts. "

Ellesmere Rangers manager Connor Courtney," A week to forget for us, after conceding three sloppy goals in the first half-hour, heads dropped and never looked like getting back into the game.

"We grabbed a goal which was a great finish from there defender who put it in his own net, we didn't deserve it. Second half we started brightly but sloppy defending for both goals again in the second half.

"We need to learn and react fast if we are to climb up the league table."

FC Oswestry Town manager Nathan Leonard, "I think overall we deserved the 3 points, we dominated possession but we weren't clinical enough and made it hard for ourselves at times.

"Scoring so late Abbey will feel hard done by but fair play to the lads for doing the right things and not giving up. You can see that in the team now, it's starting to click and even with 4 big players missing again we still found a way."

Abbey Hulton Utd manager Russell Leadbetter," A game today where we've had to play in our own half for most of it. But we defended well and they struggled to break us down although I think Oswestry are one of the best sides we've played against, one/two touch passing everywhere, very good and you can tell they are where they are for a reason. To concede in the 89th minute is hard to take but I honestly couldn't ask for more. Couldn't be more proud of the lads or the fans today."

"Brilliant."

Vauxhall Motors manager Mick McGraa, "I am gutted to lose today - only our third defeat of the season.

"Wythenshawe Town came with a game plan and it worked so fair play to them got to pick ourselves up and go again next week." 

Wythenshawe Town manager James Kinsey, "We was disappointed on Tuesday night. We got complacent and shouldn't be throwing two-goal leads at home. But we would have taken four points from the two games on Monday night. We give Vauxhall respect as they are a top side. But we knew that we had to be better on the ball.  

"We're four points behind the promotion places now with five games in hand. We must capitalise on the situation we are in."

The main photograph is from Adam Gee who was at Emley AFC's 3-0 away win at AFC Blackpool.