DK: A nice win tonight, you must be pleased with that?
KH: Yeah, again, it's another pre-season game out the way. It's all about getting fitness. Difficult pitch to play on. I've played here myself with the slope, so it was a different challenge for us tonight against a team that has obviously come up to Step 4 and have added players and are quite competitive. So, it was a good test for us. Obviously, it's probably my last opportunity to rotate it around a bit and get lads minutes. Obviously, the pre-season games are running out. We're left with Sudbury, which will be a tough test and obviously, that's the last game we've got before our first league opener at Step 2. So, yeah, I chopped and changed it a little bit. (It) can make it a little bit disjointed, but I thought it was okay.
We scored a couple of decent goals, not conceded. The only downside is obviously the trialist getting injured late on. I'm hoping it's not too bad. He's just rolled his ankle. So, that's the downside of it, I suppose. But overall, it was a solid performance. I think we dominated the play.
DK: The subs came on at half-time and within two minutes, one of them set up the goal.
KH: Yeah, it was a bit of a headache tonight. I must admit, obviously, we had 20 in the squad. A couple played last night. It's about getting lads as many minutes as they can across the board. So, it was a little bit of a brain teaser to get everyone minutes tonight. But we got there, and like you say, they had impact. The lads that come on, obviously, contributed to the first goal. Then, obviously, we brought on more lads after 60, where we were dominant, really, in possession. Going down the slope was a lot easier here. So, yeah, it was a good workout for us and sets us up nicely for our last game at Sudbury.
DK: Like you say, we bided our time quite well and took our chances.
KH: Yeah, two good goals, the cross from Milzy.
I think it was a slight deflection, but Seth was in the place you have to be between the white sticks. It was a nice little tap-in for him. Then, Hamo, we've seen it a couple of times now. He scored an absolute thunder blaster. I don't think no keeper in the world saves that. He's caught it really well. He's hit the underside of the bar in the top corner. Yeah, it's a pleasing night, like I say, apart from the injury.
DK: Harley still injured?
KH: Yes, unfortunately, Harley's done the warm-up, and still not 100 per cent right, so there's no point risking it. Tonight, he's done the last two warm-ups, but still feeling a little bit of pain down the back of his ankle. So, I just don't want to risk it at this stage. There's no point. So, it's not ideal, we know, but I'd rather that. Be more cautious than him to play tonight and then rule him out for over a month. So, I'm hoping by the time the season starts, he'll be ready to go.
DK: Everyone else is fit, aren't they?
KH: Yes, everyone else is good. It's always difficult pre-season. Obviously, you're trying to shake your squad up. We've made a couple of really good additions, in my opinion. It's about getting minutes, but it's really frustrating when you've got to rotate it and it's difficult. You go to different places and different challenges. I'm just looking forward to the season starting. Also, we've got a real tough task at Sudbury, which will be a good set-up for us to go to Curzon the week after.
DK: And their assistant manager was here tonight.
KH: Yes, a strange one to come and watch a game on a Wednesday night when we've got 20 in the squad. I'm not sure he'd have learnt much about tonight, but we'll see. This season's going to be a tough one for us, but it's one that we're all excited about and looking forward to. These lads have learnt their right to play at Step 2 and we'll be all right. I think we might surprise a few.
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