Kevin Wilkin: Post-Match vs Spalding United - Southern League Premier Central - 24th August 2024

Kevin three points from a trip to Spalding United afternoon a one-nil win which you've had to dig in for a little bit later and I suspect probably if there is some dissatisfaction with that it may be that digging in has been required and it weren't further ahead um it was very positive first half hour but nothing to show for it yeah I think May on top like that and we've already found previous games this season you know bigles went on top of the game and should have moved it away from them and didn't and worry that you know it's going to be a repeat of that um you know we should have put more more goals on the board really um you know we look comfortable in the game we're moving the ball quite well finding good areas and good moments and situations and you know again we wouldn't wouldn't have wor the goalkeeper as much as it would have liked first half um you know be brilliant to get ourselves in in the lead like we did um and then a little bit like you know I wouldn't be happy that we are not hanging on but you know we have to understand we're away from home um we've got limited options from the bench and yeah you know I don't want to get ahead of myself you know the lads have dug in there really really well one of the moments that they've had to could be an improvement in certain certain areas of certain play absolutely um there's no doubt about that but again keeping things in perspective the most important thing is you come away from home um nice to take the three points and you move on to Monday sure um first clean cheat this season um I know clean sheets are always pleasing to you um and it felt a little bit more although not perfect that that was something more akin to the the the way that we saw the side perform last season yeah I think you know we have dug in and defended when you need to and you know going away from home that's always going to be the case home teams are going to get a head of steam up at some stage and I think you know certainly a real bright spot was you know Brandon's come up with a great when he needed to for a free kick that really shouldn't have conceded but P off a fantastic save away to his left um handled the ball really really well um dealt with all the moments and that's a real positive you know Brandon would be the first to hold his hands up and say he's had a little bit of an indifference start and you know we you know we do align him on in certain moments because he is a fantastic goalkeeper and done really well for us throughout the course of last season so hope moving back to you know somewhere near the the level of performance that he's capable of was a positive you know in front of him you know good and Orin have done really well um done what you you know finalize what you want the second half to do I just think at times you know offensively um you know we've given the ball away too easy at certain times and causing our own issues I think all the issues that we faced in the in the first half were down to us being loose with you know with our passing moments um and when we weren't we've asked you know we asked questions as well no doubt about it but they've you know they kept going and you always know at one n there there's something to hang on to something to go for something to fight for and credit to them that's what they've done and got of the manager um yesterday um whe there been a response or not I wouldn't know because I hav seen the game previously but um yeah you know those boys dug in there and and sure we'll want to impress the next manager should he be here and watching the game today um but yeah you know woring about us and where we're at you know from a effort perspective and a togetherness have done fantastic like to keep the clean sheet after the of you know the goals that we've given away recently would typical of us um so you know pleased on that front we have to like I say live right between now on Monday pick ourselves up and Achieve another three points sure I mean you can only worry about what you can do but it was a bit of a an unknown quantity coming into Spalding today promoted side nearly promoted side and then with the the the events off the field yesterday like so you're never sure how the players are going to respond to that one so you know you you you are going into the unknown a little yeah that you know that doesn't help and again I'm not wanting to make excuses with players but when you you know we've got so few options on the bench only really Jimmy and Georg we could put on Remy said he you know fair play to you know sit on the bench and hopefully he's not too far away and you know we miss you know we miss Remy's energy in there we miss Jordan's energy in there when they're playing um athleticism is something that you know we probably lacking in the second period just to keep a a strangle hold on or put a strangle hold on the game um you know mat across the front Reese as well and step you know to lose those five players and not have them at our disposal is isical for any squad we're not deep numbers wise as a squad and um you know with a busy bank holiday period and two games in three days it's tough it puts a squeeze on you but but they you know they're good boys and they'll live right between now and then and hopefully come out again on Monday yeah I mean it is a short recovery period but it similarly is a short recovery period for Stratford as well you know they've played today lost today I believe so you know again they'll be looking for a bit of reaction it's a completely new day on Monday absolutely it is um like I say our boys are you there's a few new players in there and helping them to understand exactly what we need out in certain uh phases of play is something that it wouldn't be quite where we needed to be at the moment um but you find that and it's you know if you are prepared to work listen uh and keep grafting at your game then you know you get through the other side of it and become more cohesive and you know that's that's a little bit that we're searching for at the moment but you know we've clearly got um capable players in the group um it is how we um you know push that together and and mold that together to make sure that we're you know we're water tight of the back and able to score goals going forward sure um I mean the players now have got got a more recent memory of you know what those qualities bring them one nil win away from home you know that for some of them probably the last time they achieved result like that was at the tailand of last season so you know we're the best in the world the the most recent memories of of playing football as a group have been conceding goals but now they've got something they could you they just need that reminder sometimes absolutely you know it's about everybody playing said earlier you know Brandon say when we needed them to and um you know come up with a big moment for us you know the guys that thr the bodies in at the end when they need too and making sure that they do it in an honest fashion as well um yeah but you know there is I'd like to think there's more Improvement to come for us and we will are capable of you know being um say more more co- and taking moments when they come along so that you know you're not on the knife edge of which is never an easy position to play from but you know put together sides that could be comfortable in that situation and and you hopefully it's a stepping stone to towards being exactly where we are you know nasty we we don't give a lot of we the back and as you see last year you know any going to be successful you needs to be tight at the back see loose cheap goals um as I said you know was working to improve ourselves and we continue to do exactly that sure final word um Ellis BR had to come off today which given the injury situation wasn't great is there any is he I guess you just don't know the situation with him at the moment no um be okay hope the bruise and he's able to get through it bit of ice and rest for a couple of days and you know he'll be Keen to get out there he's um you know he's not had quite the minutes that that he would have hoped for at this stage of the Season you know it's been it's been a substitute got start that chance to start today and um yeah you know I need to again help Ellis to understand how to do himself better you know there's certain moments there where you know he's turned the ball over in good areas where again we've not been guilty of that you know last season when we're going to be strong and difficult to beat and break down you know it needs to improve but certainly you know going forward got fantastic energy good ball C and and again it's just that like I say that final pass cross shot whatever it might be if we can improve that in his game you know you're going to be AIC player Kevin thanks very much indeed as always for your time enjoy your own Sunday off and see you on Monday