KJM SPORT REPORT Ilfracombe Town 2 Saltash Utd 1
- Details
- Created on Sunday, 20 August 2023 17:42
- Last Updated on Monday, 21 August 2023 17:52
- Published on Sunday, 20 August 2023 17:42
- Written by KEVIN MARRIOTT Cornwall football's touchline ace
First half goals from Tyler Evans-Loude (9 minutes) and Rory Paine (42) gave the home side a nice cushion by the break and even though substitute Henry Bunning pulled a goal back a minute after coming on (76) the Ashes were unable to rescue anything from the game.
Saltash manager Macca Brown said: “I feel like I’m repeating myself week to week at the minute, but that’s simply how it is. First half we were excellent in so many ways, but went in at half time two down thanks to two set pieces and we had given ourselves a mountain to climb.
“The defending clearly isn’t good enough, the goals conceded tells us that. The aerial duel from a long free kick was lost on the edge of our box and that just can’t happen.
“James Ward and Tom Annear didn’t lose any on Tuesday night against us, I used to have Danny Medlin at centre back, who was five foot seven, and he never lost an aerial duel on the edge of his box, because that’s a centre back’s job.
“They have the advantage in those situations and have to make the first contact. It’s a mentality thing as much of anything.”
Brown believes Ilfracombe - managed by Clem Bennellick - is probably the most difficult Ashes away day of the season and said: “I’m probably not the only manager that thinks that. I looked at Saltash’s record against them in the TSWL and they’ve only taken five points from a possible 12 in the last two seasons, so it’s tough fixture for everyone."
Reflecting on the Ashes winless start, Brown said: “It reminds me so much of my first season in the Western League with Millbrook. That was a very similar start, we won just three of our first 18 games and were shooting ourselves in the foot every week.
“By the end of October it clicked and we lost just once in the next 16 games, but I’m not as patient to wait until October this season and it has to change quickly.”
Brown says the Ashes have had a tough start in terms of fixtures and added: “I know people will see our results come in from afar and think it’s been a horror start, and it has been a tough few weeks, but we’ve also just mirrored last year’s results.
“Saltash lost to Barnstaple, Clevedon, Falmouth and 4-0 to Helston and still finished second. That can be seen as me clutching at straws and trying to make myself feel better or it can be seen as perspective and the results are not actually as shocking as they probably look when they’re in sequence.
“Either way, I wasn’t at those games so I don’t know how they played out, but I’m at these and I know from my point of view we’ve dropped points that we shouldn’t have.
“We’ve scored in every game but one, and that should be enough to take points from every game if you’re defending properly.”
Next game Radstock Town (home) in FA Vase on Saturday (1500ko).
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