HAYES & YEADING ‘NEED TO EARN RIGHT TO WIN GAMES’
HAYES & YEADING MUST BE MORE RUTHLESS AS FIXTURES PILE UP, SAYS BOSS
HAYES & YEADING manager Paul Hughes has refused to blame fixture congestion for any lacklustre displays following his side’s 1-1 draw with Wingate & Finchley in the FA Trophy.
The FA Cup First Round tie at home to Oxford United will take place next Sunday (November 10) in a 2.15pm kick-off to be broadcast live on BT Sport.
However, the draw in the FA Trophy last weekend ensured that will be the third game in 13 days at the SkyEx Community Stadium, with a replay against Wingate & Finchley the first this week.
Following the draw in Finchley,
Hughes said: “[It was a] poor first half and an improved second half. That’s the story of the game for me.
“We had four of five players with fresh legs today and two debutants, so there was no real physical hangover from the Poole game. It was just an off day. You get them. Too many players off the pace.
“The team has earned every single win they’ve had this season by working hard and being brave. The first half was the antithesis of this – [the] midfield not wanting the ball and poor movement all over which didn’t allow us to play our football.
“Wingate were much better than us first half and there’s no doubt they deserved to go in 1-0 up. Our halftime chat let the group know how disappointed we were and that we expected a reaction from them, we simply needed more energy and urgency. James Clark came on at half-time and certainly helped us in that department. I think he set an example that provided a catalyst for others to start performing at a higher level. It was a much improved second half for us.
“Johnville Renee had a good debut. He gives us a very strong attacking threat from full-back and it was his shot that was parried to [Phil] Roberts to get our equaliser. From that moment I thought we’d go on to win the game but the ball didn’t quite bounce for us.
“We didn’t get the rub of the green. From experience, when you don’t put the necessary work and energy into the first half then you don’t tend to get the luck you want despite the rise in our level of play in the second half.
“We’ve got to be more ruthless in our approach to games. Nobody will roll over for us. We have to earn our right to play and earn our right to win a game of football.”
As well as a debut for Renee this week, United welcomed back striker Elliott Buchanan (pictured above) on loan from Dorking Wanderers.