Neil Young believes Marine still have room to improve despite romping to a 5-1 win over FC United of Manchester.
Their emphatic triumph over their Manchester rivals stretched their unbeaten start to two matches following their goalless draw on the opening day against Gainsborough Trinity.
The Mariners boasted five different goalscorers on the scoresheet at the Marine Travel Arena on Tuesday.
They raced into a four-goal first-half lead as Finn Sinclair-Smith, Manasse Mampala, Louis White and Josh Wardle netted with Will Russ restoring the four-goal lead after Elliot Morris, formerly of Skelmersdale United, reduced the deficit.
“I was a little bit disappointed with the performance on Saturday, I think without being disrespectful, we should’ve won the game,” Young reflected speaking to Off The Park.
“We dominated for long periods, didn’t create a great deal for the amount of possession we had second half. FC United was good, the first home game of the season, a big crowd, it was good to be able to put that performance on with the goals. It was a game for anyone who was watching, it could’ve been 8-3.
“But overall, four points from the first two, you’ve got to remember we’re a new team so things take time, a little bit disappointed and very happy with Tuesday.
“I’m not being over the top, even Tuesday, I think we’ve got a lot more in the locker. My expectation of them isn’t Saturday’s performance, although we won 5-1, I still think we can improve in certain areas – they know that.
“I know how good they can be and I think we’ve got to get it out of them, it takes time, we are a new group and we’ve put it together throughout pre-season so things do take time. Tuesday, which we wasn’t last year, we were very clinical, we had a plan and the lads carried it out so it was a great victory for us.”
Two unbeaten records are on the line when Whitby Town visit Crosby, this weekend. Their opponents are in fine form after two consecutive wins, Nathan Haslam’s side continued their run with an impressive three points away at Guiseley AFC in midweek.
Young is well aware of the threat that North Yorkshire side face but the Mariners boss wants to use home advantage to make it two successive wins at Rossett Park.
He added: “Whitby are always a tough opponent whenever you play them, home or away, throughout the years I’ve played them it was always tough.
“They’ve got off to a good start, a fantastic victory on Tuesday. I was speaking to Neil Reynolds [FC United manager], there’s no easy games in this league, you only have to look at the quality of the squads, the managers to understand, you’re not going to get an easy game wherever you play.
“You’ve got to try and make your home ground a fortress. Before Tuesday, four of our next five are at home and we’ve got to make sure we try take as many points as we can – as you always do.
“At home, it’s absolutely key, we’ve sold over 500 season tickets, there was 1,400 there on Tuesday, it definitely helps the team. Hopefully, our performances will bring more people to the ground.”
[Featured Image: Susan Nugent]
