DK: Bit of a tough one to take?
KH: Yeah, I think so. It wasn't a spectacle by any means. I think the pitch was fairly heavy, so it didn't really lend itself to free-flowing football.
And we sort of cancelled each other out, if anything. I don't think there were as many chances either end. Then obviously, from our point of view, it was a poor goal to concede. We had chances to clear, didn't take it. And look, you've got to hold your hands up and say it was an unbelievable goal to win a really dour game. And I think, looking over the whole game, I think we probably created the better chances, albeit it was when we were 1-0 down.
I think Milzy has had a chance from a header, just went past him, Jamie's ball's landed. Jamie, half-chance and then right at the end there, Tev, if he touches a little bit better, he's probably in on goal.
Obviously, we created the chances, probably, when we were 1-0 down. I can't fault the lads' effort. It was a difficult game to play in, I imagine, for both sets of players. It's a difficult game to watch for supporters. And that's how things go in at the minute. Obviously, the decision not to clear, the lads crossed it and the lads hit a volley that could have gone anywhere.
It could have ended up down Crowley Park, but it's hit the underneath of the bar and passed Marco before he can even move. From their point of view, they'd probably say it was a perfect away performance. They dug in hard, they're physical, which you can see. And obviously, they've got the goal that's won it late on.
DK: After the recent form we've been in, does it make it a bit more of a killer blow?
KH: Yeah, a little bit. It was difficult, I'm not going to lie, to play quick attacking football on a pitch that's really heavy due to the weather we've had. It was difficult. So, we had to change it slightly. So, at half-time, I said, look, just play into areas, play into areas in behind them to try and get the ball in areas where we could maybe create something. We didn't create much, but it was just a game where two teams are fighting. Neither team really played football because it was difficult to do that. It probably had nil-nil written all over it, but like I said, it was an unbelievable finish from the lad and they take all three. I think a draw would have been a fair result, yeah. I think first half, I thought they probably edged it in terms of, they had a lot more ball in our final third, but didn't really create too many problems for us. Second half, I said, look, let's play into areas. It's difficult to play on the pitch and try and land on second balls, which I thought we did better second half. We put a couple of decent balls in, Milzy put one in, Jake (Watkiss), but we weren't on the end of it. And like I say, we created chances, good chances, I think, on another day or certainly against us, the team would be scoring a couple of goals out of those chances, but it wasn't to be. We ended up with nothing when probably a nil-nil was probably a fair result. It's important I keep the lads positive. It is not the result we was after. Again, it's fine margins. It's one of the teams just outside the play-offs now in Darlington and it could have gone either way, but unfortunately at the minute when you're down there, things go against you. And like I said, the lads nicked it off Dan. It's coming onto the edge of the box in the air and the lads hit a volley that you don't often see at any level, let alone step two. So, we'll take it on the chin. Like I said to the boys in there, you have to just take it on the chin and keep working hard and try and get enough points to keep us up in this division. I don't want to be in the bottom four, obviously. I'm relatively pleased with some of the performances we've put in.
I can only count the odd game where we've been absolutely terrible and that's probably been when we've been missing players. So, we've competed. It's been fine margins. We've been punished for little errors like we were today. Like I said, we didn't see that goal coming, but we're getting punished for that. So, I'm disappointed where we are, but I'm optimistic of how hard we work and the fine margins it's been that we can turn it around.
There's still loads of football to be played halfway through the season. So, there's positive signs, but again, there's lots of areas where we need to improve and eradicate the silly little errors that we make and we'll be fine.
DK: And we conclude 2024, with a trip to Kings Lynn.
KH: Yes, a local derby-ish in this league, isn't it? I know it's still probably hour and 45, but yes, again, it's another tough game. They're flying high. I think they're doing really well this year. Obviously, some faces we know that have obviously been at Needham. So, yes, we're glad that it's not a million-mile trip like normal, but it's certainly a tough one, but we'll be ready for it.
DK: Would you say it's been a very good 2024?
KH: Yes, I think the lads and everyone connected with the club can smile and say, what a 2024 it's been. We're playing Step 2 football and I know sometimes you forget about that and you can be a victim of your own success in terms of going up a division and expectations go up, obviously, higher. We're going to lose games this year. It's all about staying in this division. Lots of work's been done around the football club from a lot of people. So, as disappointing as it is to be in the bottom four and losing more games than we win, 2024 has been an unbelievable year for this football club in terms of making history of playing at Step 2.
