Hinckley AFC manager Courtney Belford admitted yesterday’s goalless draw with Kirby Muxloe won’t live long in the memory.
AFC’s first game for a month was by no means a classic, with chances at a premium and neither goalkeeper tested too much.
It was the first goalless draw of Belford’s tenure, on a pitch that made it difficult for both sides.
And Belford was frank in his assessment of the spectacle. He said: “I don’t think I’ve been involved in a worse game of football.
“The only positive is that we take a clean sheet from it. Young Zack (Stretton, who made a league debut in goal) came in for his first game and we protected him well. We haven’t kept a clean sheet for a while so we take that positive.
“But for the last 25 minutes everyone was out on their feet. The pitch is what it is, it’s nobody’s fault but this is what we’ve got to deal with now. These are the pitches we’ll be playing on. It’s difficult and makes for poor spectacles.
“But earlier in the year we probably lose that game. We managed the game well, and I’ve always said that if we can’t win a game make sure we don’t lose it.”
The former Nuneaton Griff boss admits he had to change his gameplan at half time, bringing on Lewis Commins and Mark Williams for Mitch Thomson and Danny Harris.
And he felt the substitutions improved his side after the break.
“We started with Tommo and Danny, two players who are technically very good. We tried to get them on the ball and into the game, and not get lured into a scrap.
“But it didn’t come off so we had to match them up for physicality in the second half with an outlet of a bit of pace from Commins.
“We looked better second half, but when we’ve not played for a month I wasn’t expecting us a light anything up.
“It’s hard to get yourself motivated and to keep going when you haven’t got games so hopefully we can just get a run of fixtures now.”
Belford says he had to make difficult decisions to leave players out, but that he’ll need every player to make an impact while playing every midweek for the rest of the season.
And he admits he’ll have to sometimes pick horses for courses depending on the conditions with “two different sorts of sides” he can pick.
One of those who missed out yesterday was Ky Green, who dropped out for the returning Niall Rowe.
And Belford was impressed with the way Rowe slotted back into the side.
“Niall was brilliant. He was someone I wanted at the start of the season, but it didn’t work out at Romulus and we’re delighted to have him.
“He’s such a calming influence, he wins headers and tackles and organises.
“That’s no disrespect to Ky, he might come back in on Wednesday but we’ve asked a lot of the younger boys and sometimes you need that bit more experience to help you through.”
