We need to be quicker out of the blocks says manager Baker

LEEK Town manager Neil Baker wants his players to be a bit quicker out of the blocks if they are to turn around a run of four defeats in their last five matches.

Blues were beaten 3-2 at Colne on Saturday after conceding two goals inside the opening 14 minutes of the game. They were floored by a quick one-two from Matt Morgan and Alex Curran.

Tim Grice pulled a goal back six minutes into the second half, but Blues suffered another sucker-punch were Colne were awarded a penalty nine minutes from time, which Curran converted.

Leek winger Rob Stevenson made it 3-2 on 82 minutes, but despite some late pressure, Leek couldn’t find an equaliser. The closest they came when when central defender Jack Sanders, making his debut after signing from Charnock Richard on Friday, had a close-range effort cleared off the line.

Baker admitted it wasn’t a good day at the office.

“I felt really down at the final whistle because I didn’t think there was a great deal between the two teams. But again we were slow out of the blocks and allowed Colne to score twice early on. It’s not the first time that has happened this season and we need to put it right,” said Baker.

Saturday’s loss at Colne follows 1-0 defeats to Stamford, Runcorn Linnets and Atherton Collieries, with a 3-1 home win over Glossop North End last Tuesday night bringing some relief.

And it will get no easier for Blues who are on their travels again on Saturday when they take on Mossley in an Evostik West Division fixture, a team sitting one place and five points ahead of Leek.

Baker says the players need to take the pressure off themselves. “We have got to stop putting ourselves under pressure so early in games, it’s happening too often. We need to be switched on right from the start,” said the manager.

Baker was forced into an early change when central defender Darren Chadwick limped off in the first half, and that gave Sanders an early opportunity to make his debut.

And he almost got his name on the scoresheet late on as Leek pushed hard for an equaliser, but Sanders saw his effort following a corner cleared off the line.

However, Baker says he was pleased with his new signing.

“I thought he played very well when he came on, I’m really pleased with him,” said the manager. “He was given his chance early in the game and didn’t disappoint. I didn’t see much of his chance near to the end, there were a lot of bodies in the way, but I was told it was cleared off the line.”