REACTIONS: NWCFL Premier Division managers react to their results and Macron Cup games

Sun 17th November 2019 | Manager Reactions | By Craig Kendall

The Macron Cup

Whitchurch Alport manager Luke Goddard, "A well-deserved defeat if I’m honest. I didn't overly agree with some of the decisions made and that might have determined the game. However, that’s football at this level and ultimately Shelley deserved the victory despite the ten men.

"If the opposition wants it more than you, they generally win. Just so glad this has happened in a Cup game. It is my job to give this club a team to represent its brilliant supporters and today I haven’t. So I will act in changing things because I’m not here this season just to make the numbers up.

"Congratulations to Shelley, a good side who I’m sure will challenge in that division this year."

GAFFERS THOUGHTS | 🎥

Manager Luke Goddard give his thoughts after today’s disappointing exit in the Macron Cup against Shelley FC.

Many thanks yet again for the fantastic support of your local football club

Full interview 👇https://t.co/tI4RB7UeD2#WeAreAlport pic.twitter.com/xWNiPw6do6

— Whitchurch Alport Football Club (@alportfc) November 16, 2019

AFC Liverpool manager Chris Anderson, "I wouldn't say that was our best performance of the season but to come away with a clean sheet, score two goals and get through to the next round of the cup, we will certainly take it."

Abbey Hulton United manager Russell Leadbetter, "Quality performance from us today against a side who haven't lost in six games. We worked hard, played well and conceded two sloppy goals from our own mistakes.

"Another changed team and seven players in the squad under the age of 20, I couldn't have asked for more, I'm proud of the lads today."

Ellesmere Rangers manager Connor Courtney, "I am buzzing to get the first win under the belts. Hopefully, we can kick on in the league and get a run going. We should have been out of sight in the first half-hour today.

"We had three or four good chances but fair play keeper pulled some great saves off. We scored early from a set-piece from captain Owen Lloyd. Soon after went 2-0 up with a free-kick from Stu Dicken. Just before half time, they replied with a tap in.

"Second half turned into a battle, with them taking their chance well. 2-2. But with 10 minutes to go, Brendon price lobbed the keeper 1 on 1. A decent performance from the lads." 

NWCFL Premier Division

Runcorn Town manager Paul McManus, "Another good step in the right direction today, lads performance for the whole 90 minutes was first class. Clean sheet away from home, two goals could have been six or seven.

"I am very impressed with how we performed the lads are starting to click and what we are working on is coming through in the games. We will keep looking to improve and keep pushing up the league in the direction we should."

Northwich Victoria manager Steve Wilkes, "After the run, we have been on the lads have should great character to come back from conceding a late equaliser, shows the spirit within the group.

"I thought we dominated the second half as everyone knows Avro is a tough place to go and to come away with three points is very pleasing."

Ashton Athletic joint-manager Dougie Pitts, "Obviously a disappointing defeat to take. Credit to Rylands. They took their chances and defended well, but we feel we didn't make them work hard enough for their goals.

"They have some hard-working players and are up to there in the league for a reason. We actually felt we were still in the game at half time, despite being 2-0 down, but they got the all-important third goal first and we just huffed and puffed.

"We must defend better as a team and cut out the individual mistakes that have lead to goals recently. We've been going well of late and been scoring lots of goals, but that didn't happen for one reason or another today.

"The good thing is that games are coming thick and fast and hopefully we can put it right on Tuesday against another tough opponent."

Rylands manager David McNabb, "I thought we were excellent today, especially in the first half. We kept the ball well and caused Ashton lots of problems. We missed two really good chances before we managed to score the first and probably should have been four or five up by half-time.

"Ashton is an exceptional side and were the very good second half. They put us under a huge amount of pressure in the last 20 minutes or so but the lads defended brilliantly as a unit and I think on the day we fully deserved the three points. A great win and performance."

Barnoldswick Town manager Endrit Shehu, "Tough game today against a very good Irlam who looked very organised and played some good football by building the attack through the thirds. My team was not up to the usual standards however we still managed to create chances to score.

"If you don’t take your chances you get punished. We move forward to next Saturday. Work hard this week in training and try and get some results in."

Irlam manager Michael Dodd, "Really pleased with the professional performance from the players. To make the trip to Barnoldswick is never easy and I can’t remember the last time we won there. The game started scrappily but I did feel we started to take control in the first half and were probably good value for a 1-0 lead at half-time.

"The game was a little too open for our liking and Barnoldswick made chances of their own, but we’d always back our attacking players in a game like that to take their opportunities and win us the game. It keeps us in the mix at the top end of the table and we go into Tuesday’s cup game at 1874 Northwich with renewed confidence."

Squires Gate manager Luke Evens, "We were fantastic from start to finish creating chance after chance. 4-1 was nothing more than we deserved and with 10 minutes still remaining and a missed penalty it could well have been more. Unfortunately with the lights going out the game will be replayed and we have to accept that but the performance was still the performance and we can build on this to push on up the table."

Winsford United manager Lee Duckworth, "We were poor for the first hour. It was disappointing for the lights to go as we were just starting to come into it."

REMYCA manager Phil Stafford, "Coming off the back of last week we knew we had to get something today. I knew it was always going to be a competitive game considering that we are both at the wrong end of the table. Overall we were a good value for the win and our young lads are now understanding what it takes to grind out results in this league. Proud of our lads today and they deserve the week they have had.

"Shame we haven't got a game midweek, but we will prepare and get ready for another tough test next Saturday."

1874 Northwich manager Wayne Goodison, "Really solid display from us against a dangerous side who we certainly had to be at our best to contain. Especially in the first half when we were happy to go in at 0-0.

"Second half we felt if we were a bit more positive in our attacking play we may just get Bootle in the back foot, and that's how it worked out."

Manager @Joe_Doran19 after today’s defeat to @1874Northwich in the @nwcfl 👇🏽 pic.twitter.com/X6NvUGwjW7

— Official Bootle FC (@Bootle_FC) November 16, 2019

Main photograph by Nick Gerrard from REMYCA's vital win.