Gulls loss was ‘just a blip’
Maidenhead United FC: Assistant boss confident Magpies will bounce back from below par display in Devon
Maidenhead United's assistant boss Ryan Peters admits the side made uncharacteristic errors in Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat to leaders Torquay United, but he’s confident they’ll bounce back from the loss and hopes the sloppy display proves to be ‘a blip’.
United have made an impressive start to the season but this was their fifth loss of the campaign and their second in three matches.
The Magpies bounced back from last week’s defeat against Altrincham to inflict only a second defeat of the season on Eastleigh on Saturday, but two impressive performances in a week proved beyond them as goals from Ben Whitfield and Daniel Wright gave Torquay a deserved win at Plainmoor.
Shaun Donnellan’s late header kept the visitors in contention until the death but this was a largely lacklustre display and Peters admitted afterwards the players had let themselves down. Maidenhead did though hold onto fourth place in the league and now have a break of 10-days before going to Weymouth in the third round of the FA Trophy on Saturday week (December 19).
“We probably let ourselves down a bit,” said Peters.
“It was always going to be a tough ask to go away to Eastleigh at the weekend and then travel to Torquay on a Tuesday night, especially with them being top of the league.
“But the two goals that went in were uncharacteristic of us and we defended poorly as a team. We had two really good chances and I feel we could’ve come away with a draw if we defended a bit better. We’ve been defensively solid for a very long time so it’s just a blip as far as we’re concerned.
“This is probably the best squad I’ve been a part of both in terms of ability and mentalities so there’s absolutely no reason to suggest we can’t push on after this loss.
“Other than the spell we had right at the start of the season, we have not suffered from back to back defeats. We will get the boys back on the training pitch and go into that trophy game next Saturday trying to make amends.”
Manager Alan Devonshire is expected to make his return to the dugout for the tie at Weymouth having missed the side’s last half a dozen matches after undergoing hip surgery.
However, Peters, and coaches Aaron O’Brien and Eddie Keen have done a stellar job in his absence helping the Magpies to two wins and two draws while suffering only two defeats. It’s earned all three of them plenty of praise from supporters as well as the ‘gaffer’.
“I’ve enjoyed this opportunity immensely that I’ve been given by the club and the gaffer,” added Peters.
“I’m obviously ultra-critical of myself and it would’ve been nice to have gained a few more points looking at the games I’ve been in charge. But it will be good to have the gaffer back as there’s a lot more learning to be done for both the team and myself. It’s been a good little innings but to have the gaffer back will be brilliant.
“There are a number of coaches out there that would cut people’s hands off to be given the chance to learn from the gaffer the way I have been. For nine years I have been driving to and from games
with him. It’s been nine years of learning, understanding his philosophies, and questioning non stop on why he does certain bits and pieces. So in terms of my knowledge, it’s far superior compared to some of
the other coaches who haven’t been given that opportunity.
“I’m truly humbled by it but it doesn’t stop now he’s back and there’s a lot more learning to be done and I can’t wait for him to be back.”