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

Sun 2nd February 2020 | Manager Reactions | By Craig Kendall

NWCFL First Division North

Ashton Town manager Lee Bignell, "Frustrating performance from us today. We gave away far to many silly fouls in dangerous areas, switched off at vital times an got punished for it.

"Fair play to Chaderton, going down to 10 men a battled on an made us look like we were the side with fewer men.

"No time to dwell on it as we have another tough one Tuesday so am looking for good reactions from the lads."

Chadderton manager David Fish, "I'm delighted with the result yesterday, especially after falling to such a heavy defeat last week. The pitch and conditions weren't conducive to football but both sides persevered and some of our passages of play were very good. Most pleasing was out character to come back twice from being behind, the second time with ten men. 

"I spoke to the players in the week about not allowing our season to fizzle out and they took that on board.

"It was also good to welcome Dylan Stringer-Moth to the club. His debut showed loads of promise and the quality of his ball for the winning goal was out of the top drawer."

Daisy Hill manager Brian Hart," In windy conditions on a testing pitch it wasn't going to be pretty. Holker adjusted quickly and used the ball better and deserved their half time lead. Although we had more possession in the 2nd half and got a consolation they managed the game well.

"Their experience won over our inexperience today. Hopefully, our youngsters will learn from it."

Steeton manager Roy Mason, "Very disappointed with the result, first half I felt we were in the game and we were unlucky to be two down.

"We pulled a goal back early in the second half & we failed to capitalise on that. We didn’t pass the ball well enough and again switched off at vital times - it’s frustrating as we are so near stringing some results together but our lack of experience & game management is killing us."

Bacup Borough manager Brent Peters, "The scoreline certainly does not reflect our boy's performance, we played quite well in possession. In the first half, we were constantly knocking on the door with more than our fair share of possession, the frustrating part of us going a goal down was not a result of good play that did undo us, it came down to the linesman, in my opinion missing the ball going over the line - which I feel should have been a throw to us. We made the cardinal sin by stopping, the throw was not given, play carried on, this resulted into a freekick at the corner of the edge of the penalty area, it seemed to be a well-worked kick with the timing of a run to get in line with our keepers sight preventing him seeing the ball which went in.

"All credit to Pilkington on their second goal, a good inter-passing before the ball was smashed goal bound from twenty-five yard out, every credit to the executor. The next goal for both sides was vital, sadly it was us that gifted this opportunity at a time when we had the hosts pinned back. My defender had done the hard work by dispossessing their player, he then dwells on the ball got disposed, we get caught with our pants down due to this action, they broke and made no mistake.

"Their fourth goal was another clinical long-range effort that gave our keeper no chance, at the other end, Anthony Hall himself struck well a free-kick that sailed past their keeper.

"The scoreline does not do our performance justice, this said I do think in the final third we must start to execute the right pass at the right time, be more positive rather than overplaying. We also need to learn how to arc our runs to not get caught offside, has when we did get the opportunity to play the correct ball frustratingly we would be offside and this is poor.

"Disappointing scoreline, we go again."

Shelley manager Ash Berry, "It was a hard-fought draw. I thought the result was right, not a lot more to say. It was windy and a very heavy pitch made football difficult."

NWCFL First Division South

Abbey Hulton Utd manager Russell Leadbetter, "First half embarrassing. Second half a bit better..."

New Mills manager David Birch, "First half we were fantastic! Five-nil up after half an hour and could have been more!

"Second half was always gonna be difficult as we knew they would have a right go with nothing to lose!

"Big three points for us and I'm proud of the lads today!" 

Cheadle Heath Nomads manager Andy Gray, "Today's game was between two teams struggling for points and it looked exactly like that. All the goals scored came from mistakes by the opposition rather than being created by the scorers. 

"Indecision and bad choices cost us two goals today and we played like a team lacking in confidence, which is exactly what we are right now.

"It's never easy to get through a stage like this but we need to find a way to stop the rot and fast. 

"I think the game could have gone either way but credit to Barnton, they worked hard played to their game plan and got the points."

Barnton joint-manager Neil Murray, "A great three points on the road for us. We knew coming into this game that our confidence in how we’re playing was high, we just needed to convert those performances into points.

"We went into the game today knowing we were mentally prepared, physically prepared and tactically ready to win the game.

"We started bright and got what we deserved with a well-worked goal-setting Rio Gill away who coolly converted. Despite Cheadle grabbing one back we still went about our business the same way and again pressing quickly enabled us to force an error, allowing Rio Gill to deliver a cross for Connor Anderson to powerfully head home, it was a big boost going in at HT with something to protect. 

"The second half went in the same manner with good chances falling to Malone and Gatward, which would have killed the game off. We defended bravely to see the game out the last 10 mins, as they launched long balls at us but it was our day to take those all-important 3pts as we draw closer to the teams above us now."

Ellesmere Rangers manager Connor Courtney, "It was a game of two halves. After going 2-0 for the third game in a row I thought 'here we go again'. But fair play, great character from the lads, we scored 2 great goals and had enough chances to win the game.

"But in the last kick of the game, they had a great chance to nick it. We take the positives out of it, which was a point gained and stop the rot."

Cammell Laird 1907 manager Phil Burton, "That's another 2-0 lead we have thrown away. Missed some great chances to extend the lead but all credit to Ellesmere they never gave up and created some good chances themselves.

"Even in the 90th minute, we had two great chances to win. But it would have been harsh. First half we controlled the game, second half we just didn't come out which has been the story of the season. 

"Another frustrating Saturday. " 

Alsager Town manager Stuart Tulloch, "Both teams good value for a draw today, in really windy conditions. The wind made the game a battle. Both teams did well to try and play and either team could have won the game in the last 10 minutes. 

"They took their goal very well first half and our goal was a great team goal started from our full-back to the winger and he provided a great cross in and a header from Laney made it 1-1 so happy for him to get on the score sheet. 

"All in all, Maine Road have some great kids coming through and a draw was fair for me."

Abbey Hey manager Terry Hincks, "A really tough game today in poor conditions.

"But a top result for us against a very well organised and talented side." 

Wythenshawe Amateurs manager Martin Ivison, "3-0 looks like an easy win but this was a game of two halves.

"In the first half we dominated the game and should really of gone in at the break with 2/3 goal lead but at 1-0 the game was still all to play for.

"St Martins came out all guns blazing in the second half and it was looking like an equaliser was coming only for us to score two goals near the end to kill the game - overall a good three points against a strong St Martins side.

FC Oswestry Town manager Nathan Leonard, "A superb win and gives us a little breathing space in second place now. The 11 lads today that played were tremendous we couldn't have asked any more of them.

"Very difficult game with the conditions and Stone are third in the league for a reason a good strong outfit but overall thought we deserved the three points. We defended well when called upon and looked very dangerous every time we went forward.

"Thankfully we have four players returning for Tuesday's game and looking to keep this good run going. The dressing room was bouncing after the game and togetherness is there for all to see, looking forward to a tough month of games now."

Stockport Town manager Adam Jones," For the first time probably I'm disappointed with the way we played, especially second half. First half we probably scraped it and had a couple of chances but second half we just didn't perform.

"Hats off to Vauxhall, Mick has them well-drilled and they deserve to win the league which I think they will do now." 

Eccleshall manager Kyle Adams," It's yet another one to forget today. We're going through that bad patch at the minute that every side goes through at some point during the season. We've got to roll our sleeves up and shake it off.

"We started fairly well in the first quarter of an hour but then a defensive mistake cost us the opening goal and we couldn't get a foothold the rest of the half.

"Second half we started to apply a bit of pressure but then another mistake costs us again and it's 2-0. It's safe to say that knocked the stuffing out of us and we didn't recover after that.

"We've got a bit of a break now with how the fixtures have fallen and it might've come at the right time."

Wythenshawe Town manager James Kinsey, "We knew Cheadle was going to be up for it as they had been in good form recently. But we have controlled the game from minute one today. An early mistake gives us a chance to take the lead and Dwyer has taken it so well. The ref has then given a red card and that's when we had to manage the game right.

"The lads shown class to finish it off and I'm buzzing to see Brad Byrne looking sharp again. Aaron Dwyer set him up for it and that's exactly why we bought him back. He's been involved in both goals and we are happy.

"We can go level with West Dids with a win on Tuesday and would have two games in hand. It won't be easy, but it's important we go out and try to close the gap."

The main photograph is by @adamgeepics from AFC Liverpool's game against AFC Blackpool.