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    Morecambe boss expresses frustration after 1-0 defeat to Harborough

    sportsnewsukBy No Comments8 Mins Read
    Morecambe boss expresses frustration after 1-0 defeat to Harborough

    Morecambe boss Adam Lakeland expresses frustration after 1-0 defeat to Harborough in the National League North on Saturday afternoon.

    Harborough followed up their 1-1 draw at King’s Lynn on the opening day with their first ever win in the National League North at the weekend, while Morecambe have drawn and lost one.

    Riley O’Sullivan thought the put Harborough ahead on 32 minutes, only for it to be ruled out for offside. Morecambe also very near scored an own goal from a corner, well saved by Joe Young.

    Harborough were awarded a penalty on 48 minutes, with O’Sullivan stepping up and scoring.

    Harborough’s Alex Morris saw his curled shot come back off the post with Putman then sending the ball over from close range.

    Britt Assombalonga and Michael Jacobs (for his debut) came on for O’Sullivan and Sam Osborne, with Assombalonga seeing a late chance kept out.

    Adam Lakeland said: “Incredibly disappointed with obviously the result, but I think the result was warranted to be honest because we were second best, particularly in the second half, we were second best. Obviously, the goal that they got from the penalty gave them something to obviously protect and they did that incredibly well. They made it very hard for us to get anything going really. And you know it’s very frustrating and disappointing for me to stand here and say that you know we were second best everywhere today.

    “We were out fought first balls, second balls, made so many poor decisions. Our quality in most of the game was was quite quite poor. and and overall, you know, we got exactly what what we deserve, which which was nothing.”

    Interviewer: “From what you’ve seen in preseason, what you’ve seen in training, was that miles off it?”

    Adam: “Yeah. Yeah, it was miles off it. But you know this league first and foremost before football and before quality comes hard work and you know earning the right winning first balls, landing on second balls, defending your box and unfortunately we didn’t do that side of the game anywhere near well enough today, particularly in the second we were almost accepting of it and that’s that’s very very frustrating.

    “The game was exactly how we told the players the game would be. Harborough have a particular style and they’re very effective with it and you’ve got to match it and you’ve got to bring a little bit of calmness and quality and composure in the moments when you can play football. And in those moments today, our decision or quality was off and on the other side, they were just far more aggressive, determined, and stronger than us. And that’s something that we need to address really quickly.

    Check out more of his interview in the video below…

    Harborough boss Mitch Austin spoke with the club’s media. The interviewer said: “Mitch, three years ago, I think there was a number of levels separating the two sides. We’ve come away with our first ever win at Step 2. You must be delighted?

    Mitch responded: “Yeah, really happy. Home form has to be as good as possible. Regardless whether you’re going for titles, mid-table, trying to fight relegation. We don’t really know which we’re aiming for at the moment, probably the latter, just to stay in the league without sounding too dire about it. But we’ve done well today and it’s food for thought for just continuing and just trying to be as best we can be.”

    Interviewer: “It looked like right from the first whistle the boys were up for it. I know it’s down on training with you Tuesday night but every single player on that pitch, it seemed like, gave every single ounce of energy on that.

    “I know it’s very cliche to say it, but it was almost at that point where the second half substitutions, everyone had given everything they could do and it was almost impossible to find out who to take off because I thought everyone, the team together had a fantastic game.”

    Mitch: “Yeah, I thought they were. Today was all, there was a lot of eights and lot of nines, weren’t there? And to be successful against full-time Morecambe, who are one of the favourites for a league, you’ve got to be bang at it for, what was it, 100 odd minutes, weren’t it, in the end? I think we could be really proud, proud as a football club.”

    Watch more of the interview below…

    MICHAEL JACOBS’ INTERVIEW:

    Interviewer: “Michael, lovely to see you in yellow this afternoon. Obviously welcome to the Beehive and what a way to kick off your career with the Bees with a 1-0 win here at Morecambe.”

    Michael: “Yeah, was great to be a part of. I’ve been down here for a couple of weeks, sort training. The club’s been great with me, sort of let me come down and train and be part of the group.

    “It was a conversation that had with the club and they’ve been great all the way through. So to sort get it done and be part of it today, it’s a great occasion for the club.

    “And just obviously the clean sheet and the victory is just massive. So yeah, it’s great to be a part of and great to be down here.”

    Interviewer: “Your personal journey obviously, think the reaction on social media we’ve had since announcing just for kick-off as well, but so much experience obviously playing League One last year, but you’ve had some real career highs in playing in all those levels and why was now the change for yourself personally, where you’re staging your career or what was the reasons to come, not join the Bees, but take, come down to start playing with us here at the National League North?”

    Michael: “I think just for me I’ve had such a good career going here, there and everywhere and obviously playing for Northampton Town last year was great to be a part of the club again and I think for me just I’ve heard so much about the club from outside… everyone spoke so highly of the club and it’s something I’ve always been in touch with them boys and speaking to them and like I said everyone spoke so highly.

    “To get the opportunity to just be part of it for the last couple of weeks training and doing a bit and you can see the sort of atmosphere that they’ve created down here and it’s yeah, you can see it comes out on the pitch and yeah, it’s probably about the time in my career that I can sort of concentrate and try and help other people out as well which is part of it.

    Britt Assombalonga explains decision to sign for National League North newboys Harborough Town

    Interviewer: “Obviously just 10 minutes today and obviously still getting the time on our legs but came on and looked like you slotted straight in, think yourself and Britt came on at the same time but I think that strength in depth this year is something and Mitch has talked about the squad, right?

    “So there’s going to be a squad this year that just competes for us in this league and prepared to play that squad game and make sure as a team you get to the end?”

    Michael: Yeah I think that’s it. You look at all the best squads, all the teams that pull together as a team, they’re the ones that are at the top end of the division.

    “They’re the teams that sort of come out on top because everyone pulls their way, everyone does their bit when they need to and you need that nowadays in football. There’s no, you don’t have star men anymore and people that sort of carry the team.

    “It’s all, everyone pulls together and you can see in there there’s probably 21, 22 lads that could play out there so the managers created a great atmosphere, a great group and like you said after the last week and then today it’s a great start.”



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