Manager Kevin Horlock reflects on the defeat at Chorley.
DK: Harsh one to take?
KH: Frustrating, I think. Obviously, we've come to a team right at the top end of the table. Obviously, no-one gives us a chance, but we do. I don't think there was a lot in the game. Obviously, a mistake for the goal, which puts us on the back foot a little bit. But I thought we'd come out in the second half. We looked dangerous towards the end. I'm not sure how we've not scored and left with at least a point.
DK: We had a few chances in the second half, do you think we could've earned a point?
KH: Yeah, there wasn't a lot in the game. They were playing to the forward. I thought we snuffed that out quite well. They were getting frustrated. The crowd were really quiet. Then, obviously, the mistake for the goal gives them a lift and a little bit of impetus. Second half, we just asked us to be a little bit more braver in possession. Get into the final third and try and create chances, which, obviously, late on we did.
I don't know how it stayed out. I think we've hit the post and then the keepers saved one from point-blank range late on. It's another defeat, no matter what way you look at it. We'll have to learn from it and look to try and improve next week. I think we've been quite sound defensively in the large majority of the games. It's those small moments in games like the mistake that cost you at the end of the day. You don't take chances when they've come, whether it be a little bit of bad luck where it's come off the inside of the post. Obviously, a good save from the keeper. On other days, you score. It's fine margins in this division. I don't think anyone's really dominated us, apart from our bad performance at Oxford City. We've been in every game, but we've not got enough points to show for the performance that we give in. We need to turn that around as soon as we can, really, and put the performances and then get the result at the same time. That's what we're aiming to do. I think they've worked their socks off to the final minute. I suppose you can drive back to Suffolk, or we can drive back to Suffolk feeling a little bit unfortunate not to get something from the game. So, there is positives. We're keeping the lads upbeat, but I'm sure it will come. Obviously, we've won a couple of games away from home. We've beat South Shields comfortably, and today it was a fairly good away performance. Bar the mistake, it could have been a lot different.
DK: Unfortunately, the goal came from a weird lapse of best judgment from Marco?
KH: Yes, I think so, a little bit. I don't think he was unsure whether Josh had touched it..He was asking the ref, and then he decided to pick it up. Obviously, Josh had touched it, so I think it was the right decision, but yes, just one of those moments where it's created a chance for them from quite close range in terms of the free kick, and the lad has hit the target, which from that range is always going to end in a goal.
REACTION | Nico Valentine Post Match Interview | Chorley v Needham Market | 12.10.2024
Nico Valentine reflects on today's defeat.
DK: A harsh defeat?
NV: Yeah, tough result today. Probably should have come away with a point as well. I think one of them's obviously hit the post before I could get there and then last minute it's a disappointing one, especially after how hard we've worked the second half. But yeah, I'm fit now, I feel fit, I'm getting there and I just want to try and come and affect this season and affect games. Unfortunately today that hasn't been the case, but I'm sure there'll be many more opportunities today.
DK: Yeah, it wasn't really a one-nil game, do you think?
NV: No, I think the game was pretty balanced, to be fair. I think we were better in the second half. I think we showed a little bit more, created a few more chances. I think maybe first half it was a bit cagey, but yeah, they've got their goal. It's a freak mistake. Marco never, never, ever makes those mistakes and it happens in football and similar to my chance, you're going to get chances that go begging, but yeah, it's happened now and we've just got to move on. Double game week next week, so we'll look forward to that.
DK: Yeah, you've acclimatised quite quickly to this level.
NV: Yeah, I mean, it makes it easier coming into a changing room that I obviously already know. I was here last season. It's not a difficult changing room to get involved in. I feel like I can come in and affect the game straight away instead of having to adapt to the changing room. But yeah, I want to play as high level as possible. I think I've got to adapt to levels quickly, especially with my age. I want to climb the ladder as quick as possible, but obviously doing that at the right rate, with the right amount of minutes and getting the right experience.
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