“We were the better side for most of the game”

Bay manager Andy Gowens echoed the thoughts of most fans after Friday’s derby defeat by North Shields. “It’s a cruel game isn’t it! I think other than probably the first ten minutes we controlled the game but just didn’t have that cutting edge at the big times in the game when we had the chances. There were two ‘worldie’ saves from their keeper, one from Chris (Salmon) then another one, probably an even better one, from Peter (Glen-Ravenhill).”
“When we got back in the game at 1-1, we went back to our 4-4-1 and decided to stay with that with our ten men but then we got caught with a bit of sucker punch really for their second goal then the third we were trying to get back in the game and got caught on the break. People will see the result and think we’ve been well beaten, which isn’t the case. We played some really good stuff. We kept the ball for long periods of time and I think we were the better side for most of the game really. It was definitely – massively – the best performance since we came in.”
Regarding the sending off shortly before half time, like most other people in the ground he admitted that he didn’t see the incident. “I was following the ball like just about everyone else, I never saw a thing but if two of them were grappling with each other on the ground should they not both go or if the ref’s not sure then maybe just book them both and send them on their way?”
“It was disappointing, but there were far more positives from the game though. I feel sorry for the lads. They’ve given us everything and played some good stuff but then got punished, little things really like their first goal which ricocheted again, an unfortunate goal really.”
“We’ve asked them to build it up, be patient, play football, get it down the sides and play it in; and I think that’s what they did. We couldn’t have asked any more really other than that the finishing, where we could have had a bit more luck.”