REACTION | Kevin Horlock Post Match Interview | Needham Market v Berkhamsted | 07.11.2023 | League |
Manager Kevin Horlock reflects on last night's victory.
DK: Back to winning ways in the perfect fashion.
KH: Yeah, it's always pleasing after the disappointment of the result on Saturday, where we wasn't really poor on Saturday, but obviously didn't take our chances, end up losing, so to bounce back in, well scoreline's convincing manner, another 3 goals, clean sheet. Albeit we weren't at our best, but again that pleases me because to win ugly, to find a way to win when you're below par is a good trait, so yeah I'm made up and I'm buzzing that Seth got a goal as well - come on and got a goal, so yeah all round it was a good night in the end.
DK: As we were just debating pre-interview, was it an OG or Keiran's goal?
KH: Yeah, I think it was an own goal, and it was a big moment actually, because like I said we was below par a little bit, and you've got to give them a little bit of credit - obviously they're the other end of the table, they're fighting for their lives and they had a right go at it, and put us under a lot of pressure second half. So to get the goalat that point from a set-piece we actually do work on. We've scored from it before, ball into the near area, the near post area, I think we did it in the Premier Cup, and (tonight) I think it come off the defender. Keiran's not claimed it, so that means it definitely come off the defender, because he would've been all over that, but it was a big moment and gave us that little bit of a cushion, to obviously score the third to finish the game off is pleasing.
DK: Like you say, having struggled to take our chances on Saturday doing so tonight is important.
KH: Yeah, I thought we moved the ball really well, the pitch was in really good condition, so fair play to Ken getting it in that nick after the rain we've had. I thought we moved the ball around really well first half, and created chances, looked dangerous, well 1-0's always dangerous so was under the cosh. We had to defend for our lives, which we've done, Keiran's done it all season long with the rest of the back four. Hugh done well coming back into the team after being on-loan to Thetford, so another clean sheet and obviously the second goal means all that dogged hard work, putting your bodies on the line was worthwhile.
DK: Dylan got the scoring underway, with his first of the season!
KH: Yeah, it was a great goal actually, on his left foot. He's just sort of shimmied to go one way and sold the defenders and still had quite a lot to do, but he found the bottom corner left footed. It was a good goal, and sort of it was a big moment again, because we was on top - like we had done in a lot of games. It's important that you score when you're on top, and that's what we did, so it was a big moment for us.
DK: Moving onto Saturday, a top of the table clash.
KH: Yeah, one's obviously looking at that, and even before now they're looking at it as a massive game, which it is - of course - but tonight was big. Tonight was big after the defeat against Nuneaton, to get a result tonight was way bigger than Mickleover, the Mickleover game, but now it's the biggest game because it's our next one. So we'll go there, obviously we'll be underdogs, away from home against a team that's obviously been on fire, think we're five points behind them. So a win there would be nice, but going there and getting a positive result would be a good result as well, so we'll go there, give it all, and I don't care losing games as long as we approach it in the right way, and give everything and sometimes you've got to hold your hands up and say the other team's better, so we'll go there and give it our all and see where we're at.
DK: Ingram hitting the post could've also been a big moment tonight.
KH: Yeah it could've been, it was a great move actually right on half time. It was a good header, just a little bit unfortunate just come back hit into play and follow up obviously couldn't get onto it, and that kept them in the game. So that gave them that impetus to carry on working hard, which I thought they did, they worked really hard and knocked on the door, but just obviously couldn't break us down - which a lot of teams haven't done this year, so yeah it was a little bit tense at 1-0 abd obviously we're having to put bodies on the line, and conceded a little bit of possession at that point, but we always look a threat going forward, and obviously the set-piece goal was pleasing but the third goal was a great move, great run from Jake - who's been excellent all season. Like I said, I'm made up, young Seth's got a goal and he deserves it, in the area. At the right area, at the right time and ended up a little tap in for him.
DK: The goal gave us that foothold in the game to just do what we needed to do.
KH: I think even more so like the third goal, obviously was really late on, but the second goal think just took the wind out of their sails when they're obviously pushing, putting bodies forward and when we scored the second it sort of just took the legs off them and killed them off a little bit which was a good time to score.
DK: Another game where Marcus has been relatively untroubled.
KH: No, a couple of saves I suppose, but routine saves, and crosses to deal with - which I thought he did really well but he's done that all season, we know what to expect from Marco. Takes the pressure off, along with the defenders is a big reason why we've got so many clean sheets - I don't know how many it is now, but it's a lot. So if that keeps continuing clean sheets give you the platform and foothold to go and win games, so the more we get of them the better.
DK: Speaking of the defence, Jake Dye in particular was outstanding tonight.
KH: They have been all season, the lot of them; Tommy, Keiran, Dan. Jake Dye's played in a number of positions and been outstanding, like I say they're a big reason why we're winning games of football. Goalscorers always get the limelight, always have done, always will, but we appreciate them as staff, as teammates, the team appreciate what Marco and the rest of the defenders do, and I've said it before the midfielders working hard in front of that. We defend as a team, wide players tracking back, forwards chasing down defenders, it all starts from the front.
DK: Keiran also had a good game on his return from injury.
KH: Yeah, look he was magnificent today, he has been ever since I've known him, he's a player that's massively improved. I think initially he was a little bit of a dog and work horse that gives everything, he's much more than that now. He's cultured, he can play, he knows where to be and he's a head on a stick, I don't think he's lost a header today. So he's enough at this level just with that, if he scores goals as well I've always said he should be playing higher. I don't want him to, only with Needham obviously, but he's a wonderful little player and we're lucky to have him.
REACTION | Seth Chambers Post Match Interview | Needham Market v Berkhamsted | 07.11.2023 | League |
Striker Seth Chambers reflects on getting on the scoresheet last night.
DK: Nice to get back to winning ways!
SC: Yeah, I don't think we played as well as we could've but got the win, that's the most important thing, and onto the next game, onto Saturday.
DK: As we talked about before, you're now on five goals, joining a few of the other lads level at the top of the charts.SC: Yeah, it's good for the team to have a few scorers, I think we all want to score more, and we all know we can score more. Just making sure we keep working hard in training and bring into the matches really.
DK: Goal off the bench, you love to see it!
SC: Yeah, getting in the right areas, I'm just trying to put myself about really and lucky got one today, but hopefully can keep getting them.
DK: Marco was saying earlier that you nearly hit the bar!
SC: Yeah, Marco loves to say a little bit, he's glad he got a clean sheet I'm sure.
DK: Big game on Saturday, away to Mickleover.
SC: Yeah, well every game is as big as your last one, won today onto the next one. We'll make sure we prepare right on Thursday and do what we can, hopefully show them what we've got and hopefully get a result.
DK: How important is it that we're going there off the back of tonight's win?
SC: Yeah, it's great preparation, like I said I don't think we played as well as we could, but scoring 3 goals is never a bad habit, and yeah another clean sheet as well, so good preparation.
DK: The start to the season's almost been perfect, would you say?
SC: It's been a good start but we're only a handful of games in, you don't win the league, get promoted, or anything, thirteen, fourteen games into the season. You've got to do it for the whole season, and we all know that, and we need to keep working hard. Long season ahead.
No comments:
Post a Comment