KJM SPORT REPORT Millbrook AFC 1 Ashton & Backwell 4

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Details: Created on Monday, 11 April 2022 22:59; Last Updated on Tuesday, 12 April 2022 05:42; Published on Monday, 11 April 2022 22:59; Written by KEVIN MARRIOTT Cornwall football's touchline ace

When you’re in something of a slump, two games in four days against teams in the top six might not seem the ideal way to spend your Easter.

But the visit of Saltash United to Jenkins Park on Good Friday (12 noon) and a trip to title chasing Exmouth on Easter Monday could just wake Millbrook from their end of season slumbers.

Saturday’s heavy home defeat to a team sitting second from bottom had manager Macca Brown full of praise for Ashton & Backwell, but critical of some aspects of his own team’s performance.

The visitors were 4-0 up thanks to goals from Conor Hartley (44 & 76), Henry Sady (50) and Charlie Saunders (70) before Josh Toulson scored Millbrook’s consolation four minutes from time.

Brown said: “On paper, this may be one of the standout results of the day and it’s never nice being on the wrong end of that.

“But there should be no surprise that a result like this can happen because that’s the nature of the league where there really isn’t much between the top and bottom.

“If one team performs and the other team doesn’t hit the levels they should then these results happen.

“We’ve been on the right end of these kind of results, we beat Exmouth 4-0 earlier in the season which would have been just as surprising for onlookers, but that was because we showed the same intensity and hunger that Ashton and Blackwell showed, and that we lacked.

“That was my message to the players afterwards, what Ashton and Blackwell served up was exactly what we were about a matter of months ago and maybe it’s been missing for a few weeks now for whatever reason, but the simple fact is we must get it back.

“Full credit to them, it was probably the best performance from a visiting team at Jenkins Park this season and I include all the big hitters in that, they more than deserved the win.”

Millbrook worked hard but couldn’t match Ashton & Backwell for intensity. Brown said: “Maybe you could argue they have survival to fight for and that explains their hunger which overwhelmed us but I can’t accept that as a manager and I won’t give the players that excuse.

“I thought the first half was fairly even, quite scrappy which was similar to our game up there and then a deflected shot loops over Chris (Wearing) 30 seconds before half-time and it rocked us a bit, and maybe when you’re not getting the rub of the green that happens.

“Our reaction after half-time, though, was poor. The second goal was a disgrace from our point of view where it was like a training ground corner for them against a bunch of mannequins.

“There was a free header, they then hit the post with a rebound before smashing it in at the third attempt while we stood and watched.

“We take full responsibility though, we know it was nowhere near good enough or close to the standards we set ourselves and are already looking to put it right.

“If I was a player in that changing room I’d be looking forward to the perfect weekend for a response.

“We play Saltash and Exmouth in the bank holiday games where the lads know if they’re not at it then they could get severely punished in front of big crowds.

“So we have to relish that and be ready because that’s what this league is all about and we need to remember that.”

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