Barratt says second half should have been better
While he was full of praise for their first half display against Scunthorpe United, Sam Barratt wasn’t prepared to gloss over Maidenhead United’s showing after the interval.
Following an inspired opening 45 minutes, in which goals from Emile Acquah, Will De Havilland, and Kane Ferdinand had put them 3-0 up, the Magpies failed to match the same intensity in the second phase of play.
Joe Nuttall first dispatched a penalty in the 48th minute before the Iron’s number nine was able to jangle the nerves of both players and supporters inside York Road with an 87th minute finish, the match concluding 3-2.
Speaking to the Advertiser at full-time, Barratt wasn’t sure whether the full-time score was owed to the scorching temperatures, or the Iron being fired up through a rousing half-time team talk from manager Keith Hill.
“We’re just lucky we got the three goals because that second half wasn’t great,” he said.
“Whether it was because it was hot or because they got shouted at heavily, Scunthorpe came out all guns blazing really in the second half to try and retribute the first.
“We conceded in the first few minutes and they got a late goal too as we made it tough for ourselves.
“But ultimately we held on and managed it much better in the last five minutes or so.
“There’s a bit to build on and improve but our
boys were talking more and it was a better game than last week’s.”
Barratt added: “I think I played alright, I could’ve been better. I had to play a different game because of the heat – I couldn’t just keep getting at the defender like I would do normally. I was especially sapped [of energy] in the second half.
“I had to sit back a bit and do the simple things like retain the ball and pass it around.
“But look, as a team, we did really well in the first half. We played it about really nicely and found some good pockets down the channels and in behind for the goals.
“I’m glad to get the assist on the corner for the third goal but we all know we can’t have a second half like that again.
“We needed to be better.”