Two of our latest recruits expressed a tinge of disappointment at missing out on maximum points yesterday.
Defender Joe Lewis, on a season-long loan from Stockport, and attacking midfielder James Tilley, previously with Crawley, talked to us after an entertaining 1-1 draw versus Wrexham at The Cherry Red Records Stadium.
“There’s a degree of disappointment that we didn’t go on and win it,” said Joe. “I thought we were more than capable of taking three points from that game. It’s testament to the ambition within the squad. It’s a hard earned point."
“We were the better side in the second half and I think we were right in it as well in the first half. We came in at the break and I think the consensus from the whole team and the staff was that we were right in the game.
"We went back out there second half and gave it absolutely everything, got back in the game and we are slightly disappointed not to have taken all three points.”
It was sponsor’s man of the match James Tilley who levelled the scores from the spot in the second half, after Ali Al-Hamadi was unable to convert a penalty for the second successive Saturday.
“We were a bit disappointed afterwards that we didn’t take all three points, but there were a lot of positives out there so we’ve just got to take that onto Tuesday night at Colchester,” said James.
“We’ve been building on starting strongly in pre-season and getting at teams straight away. I think it showed that out there and we were unlucky to go a goal down.
“Ali is an unbelievable player. I was gutted for him that his penalty was saved, but he’s going to score loads of goals this season. When we won the second penalty, I just wanted to take it. Lee Brown took the ball, but asked me if I wanted to take it. I was confident going up for it, but we’ll see what happens when we next get a penalty.”
“It was a great penalty from Tills,” said Joe. “The impact that Ali has on games though is far more important than anything else - he’s always a threat.
“In my opinion, penalties can be a bit of a lottery. There’s not too much thinking that goes into them. Ali has been outstanding on the pitch in the last three games.”
“The atmosphere out there was absolutely bouncing! I think we expected it, after the win on Wednesday in the cup against Coventry. We’re showing our fans what we’re capable of this season and they’re getting behind us brilliantly. It really pushed us on and played a part.”
“The fans were unbelievable,” added James.”That’s what you want to play in front of every week. Their support carried us through.”
Photos: Stephen Flynn and Ian Stephen (Pro Sports Images).