Holbeach United 2
Kirby Muxloe 2
Fuming player/boss Tom Roberts laid into his Holbeach United side after they could only draw 2-2 with ChromaSport UCL Premier Division strugglers Kirby Muxloe on Saturday.
The Tigers trailed 2-0 at half time in what was a disastrous opening 45 minutes at Carter’s Park, with Jordon Lever and Dan Sheahan getting the goals.
Roberts roasted his charges at the break and sent on Josh Ford and Stacy Cartwright for Tyler Wright and Aaron Eyett – and that change paid immediate dividends thanks to a quick-fire double from hitman Ford.
Kirby, who have been in the bottom four most of the season, then had Kane Brown sent off, but Holbeach failed to find a winner.
Roberts admitted that he knew his side were going to stutter from the moment they arrived for the game – and called into question just how committed some of them are to play at UCL standard.
“It was an absolutely terrible first half,” said the player/boss. “Some very strong words had to be said at half time.
“I could tell something was off as soon as the lads arrived. The warm-up wasn’t right and it seemed like some of them thought we just needed to turn up and we’d win the game.
“Absolutely no respect was shown to the opposition and we deserved to be more than 2-0 down at half time. We had to make a double substitution and give the lads a few home truths. In honesty, any of them could have been taken off.
“It was then 2-2 within six minutes, which was also pretty frustrating as the lads showed what they can do when they properly apply themselves.
“However, once they went down to ten men we played some brainless football and just couldn’t get the goals we should have done.
“It was a very, very disappointing day. Some of the lads need to take a long look at themselves and decide if they actually want to represent this football club.
“Holbeach United is a big club with a strong following and we owe it to the fans to produce performances.
“What I saw on Saturday was more like Peterborough League football. If some of them want to mess around and play with their friends at that low standard, maybe they should just go and do it.”
Meanwhile, the scheduled Lincs County Senior Trophy quarter final at Boston Town tonight (Wednesday) has been postponed due to a Lincs FA enquiry. No new date has yet been set for the clash.
Tigers: Drury, Walton, A Jackson, N Jackson, Stevens, Tinkler, Muldrew, Eyett (Ford 46), Wright (Cartwright 46), Clitheroe, Treacher (Smith 65). Not used: Warfield, Roberts.
Attendance: 69.
