REACTION | MARCUS GARNHAM + KEVIN HORLOCK POST MATCH INTERVIEWS | NEEDHAM MARKET V HALESOWEN TOWN | 12.08.2023 | 2023-24 COMPETITIVE GAME 3 | LEAGUE 2 |

REACTION | MARCUS GARNHAM POST MATCH INTERVIEW | NEEDHAM MARKET V HALESOWEN TOWN | 12.08.2023 | 2023-24 COMPETITIVE GAME 3 | LEAGUE 2 | 

Goalkeeper and Man Of The Match Marcus Garnham reflects on Saturday's goalless draw with Halesowen Town.

 

DK: Nice clean sheet, point on the board!

MG: Yeah, tough game, good side, all credit to them. They've come here, we were under the cosh here and there and we had pressure as well and yeah, even though it's just a point, we had a few chances just like they did and it could've been either way at the end of the game really.

DK: Yeah, it's building block after last week.

MG: Yeah, last week was really disappointing, think everyone was disappointed, but you know you draw a line under it, go again and I think we've proven a point that we can play against decent sides like Halesowen and pick up points, so that;s all good! It's confidence building!

DK: Yeah, we've started our home season unbeaten!

MG: Yeah, it's only one game Drew, don't get carried away mate!! But yeah, we've played well today, there were patches where they've put us under immense pressure, we've defended really well as a team and their keeper has pulled off some great saves as well. On another day they'd have gone in, but their shots would've gone in as well another day, so think it's a fair result overall. 

DK: Would you say defences firmly on top?

MG: Yeah, done well, they gave us some problems, but we answered the questions. Can't grumble, they had opportunities, we had opportunities, they're a good side. It's good to see that we're more of a threat as well.

DK: After Tuesday as well, we've built on things that we've done wrong in previous games. 

MG: Yeah, just putting things right, changed the shape today to a sort of more traditional 4-4-2, kind of just went back to basics, kept it simple and played well. So same again Tuesday I guess!

DK: What's the most pleasing part for you?

MG: Not messing up for a change!! That was quite pleasing today, didn't chuck one in, that was all good!

DK: Nice little clean sheet!

MG: Yeah, exactly, it's all good and a bottle of wine for my Mum to take home with her, so yeah all good!

DK: Are you pleased to get Man Of The Match?

MG: Doesn't really matter to me, Man Of The Match, as long as we pick up points and get results, that's all that matters to me. This is just a bonus, but yeah I appreciate the sponsors and that doing it all, but yeah I think the team did well. Dug in when we needed to, was expansive when we needed to be, it's just like you said final ball decision making, every now and again but just being picky, we did well today.

DK: Tuesday, back at home to Hitchin, another tough game.

MG: Yeah, Hitchin are a tough side to play against, but you know take the confidence from today into Tuesday and who knows what will happen!

REACTION | KEVIN HORLOCK POST MATCH INTERVIEW | NEEDHAM MARKET V HALESOWEN TOWN | 12.08.2023 | 2023-24 COMPETITIVE GAME 3 | LEAGUE 2 | 

DK: Point on the board.

KH: Yeah, obviously going into all games you're obviously looking for 3 and we're no different, but I think reflecting on it and being honest, which I'll always try and be honest, I think the draw was probably the right result, I thought they were a really good team. I thought they could play, they defended well, they were a handful. The centre forward, and obviously they went to two later on in the game, they were a handful so yeah, we've got to be honest enough and hold your hands up and go, 'do you know what we'll take a point and move on.' We kept a clean sheet against a team that's dangerous, we could've scored, should've scored maybe on another day, but I couldn't fault the lads today. I think from where we were obviously last week, albeit shouldn't have been a 6-1 but, I thought our work ethic, our willingness to run, tackle, block, and try and push for that winner was there today. Like I said to the lads, if we perform to that level week in week out, you'll certainly win more games than you draw and lose.

DK: Yeah, it was a bit of a battling first half, they probably edged it would you say?

KH: Yeah, I think they probably had more possession, we changed it slightly, something we spoke about on Thursday in training, we were looking to go 2 up top today, to try and get us away from playing total football, which we've done. I'm getting sick to death of people saying, 'ah, you're the best footballing team we've played,' and we are. We play really good football between box to box, but not been a threat so we sort of changed it up today, went 4-4-2, and played into areas and it worked to a certain extent in terms of we caused problems and we looked more threatening in the final third, albeit not creating loads of chances first half, but that ended. The trade off with that is obviously we didn't have the 3 in midfield, which they did and they kept better possession. So on the eye it probably looked like they shaded the first half, chances and being threatening in the final third I would say was pretty even.

DK: Yeah on the other hand, we probably had the better of the second half.

KH: Yeah, obviously we changed it a bit, we then went to a 4-3-3 and tried to hurt them out in wide areas and dominate the football more, which we're more used to and I think that worked, and we did. I think we created the better more clear chances and probably just edged them slightly on chances created, but it weren't to be. The keeper's made a couple of good saves, Marco's made a good save as well so in the end we settle for a point. 

DK: Yeah, the game kind of sparked into life second half.

KH: Yeah, especially late on, it became a little bit of an open basketball match, where they attacked and looked threatening, then we had the ball and yeah, legs were getting tired by that stage and I think decision making wasn't great. Little bit of composure I think probably late on I think we possibly knick it, but I'm not going to grumble, I'm not going to be too disappointed. It was a good level of performance without getting the three points so we'll keep working hard, and pushing for the first win game Tuesday.

DK: Pagey came probably the width of the ball away from giving us the points. 

KH: Yeah, looked like we had a really good spell at that point and we worked it out right, ball in and he was in a good area, maybe didn't connect with it as well as he liked and the keeper's somehow kept it out. I don't know. The linesman said he didn't have a great angle on it, obviously where he was, but you're not going to change their mind, there's no point arguing over it, didn't happen, but yeah it was pleasing that we made chances today, against what I said was a very good team. I expect them do quite well this year.

DK: Quite a solid performance. 

KH: Yeah, I think both sets of players can be proud of their performance. A 0-0 when you read it in the paper, or whether in a report, you probably think it's going to come across as a bit of a bore draw, but it certainly wasn't that. I think it was two teams going hell for leather, two teams that could play football, two teams that were looking to create chances and on another day would've scored. but it was a good game. I wish we'd have got 3 obviously, but it's a point on the board and we move forward. 

DK: Yeah, a bit of momentum has carried on from the second half on Tuesday.

KH: Yeah, I think it's important. Obviously the longer you go about winning games the better the feeling around the club is, the better the players feel, so yeah it's a step forward. The big question is now can we keep that level of performance, can we add that little bit of quality in the final third and composure, which will enable us to get the 3 points. 

DK: Marco was given Man Of The Match today, but do you think anyone could've got it?

KH: Yeah, I think that Marco's a top keeper, he's made a good save. Man Of The Match for me makes it sound like we were under the cosh all the time, which I don't think we were, yeah could've probably gone to a number of players. I thought defensively we were really good, Dan was always in the right place, Keiran, Tommy at left-back, the covery run he made late on. I thought it was quite good across the board.

DK: Moving onto Tuesday, Hitchin another tough game here.

KH: Another tough game yeah, but we're a decent team so the test is and the challenge laid out to the players is be consistent, play at that level, every game, week in week out, we'll have a chance. It's at home, our pitch is good and we'll be looking again to go and get three points. 

DK: How do you reflect on the start of the season so far?

KH: Hit and miss, obviously the first game I didn't see that result coming. I think obviously it was individual errors and it killed us a little bit. I think we could've been a little bit more solid. When it went to 3/4 we wasn't going to win the game, but then you say it's not going to be anymore, so the 6-1 was a little bit of a shock to the system. We obviously bounce back in a strange game against Bury, which was massive for the football club. Always will be the Premier Cup so that was pleasing and we've drawn a game, not conceded a goal against a team that I believe will be right up there. So it's been ok so far and something to build on, but it's been an ok start.

DK: Mixed bag?

KH: Mixed bag, but Tuesday could change everything.