“A game too far”

Bay manager Marc Nash felt that the midweek game at Guisborough was one too many as his side prepare for their FA Vase tie in Hull at the weekend. “It’s a game too far in my opinion. The schedule we’ve been given has battered us. No free midweeks for players to recover properly. We have seven injuries and that’s without people away or working which is a given at this level. Because of the unavailability the same players are playing every game now which also puts them at risk. It doesn’t matter what the circumstances, a losing changing room is a very unhappy place but what we need now is to show some character with the biggest game of the season so far next up in the Vase.

The game itself felt like we were swimming against the tide first half but frustratingly we had a decent spell in their final third but negative decisions have let them break on us to score. Then we’ve switched off for a quick 2nd goal and now we have a mountain to climb. I asked the players at half time to be more positive and to show some belief they could get back in the game and most importantly to improve. The players did respond and we’ve been much better, nearly snatching an unlikely point. I thought Kempster showed tremendous leadership in the way he went about his business second half and he took the game by the scruff and he deserved more. Other pleasing aspects were the full debuts for Harley in goal and new signing Chris Salmon who is going to be a great addition for us. Youngster Kieran Brannen produced that kind of fearless play that young players possess and these things make the future look brighter and I said to the players we will have better days if we continue to work hard as a group.”