Neil Young believes Marine were poor in the 4-4 draw with Workington – and highlighted his concerns over an ongoing trend.
The long-standing boss highlighted the manner of the “poor goals” that were conceded as Marine failed to claim all three points, despite leading three times.
Nathan Woodthorpe, Sol Solomon and Louis White all fired the hosts back in front, with Michael Carberry on the scoresheet to equalise midway through the first-half.
Danny Grainger’s side pegged Marine back thanks to Dannen Francis, Steven Rigg and Joe Bunney. David Symington’s long-range effort squirmed through Felix Goddard’s grasp to give the visitors a surprise 2-1 lead in the first-half.
“Poor performance, silly goals and poor goals throughout for both sides,” said Young speaking to Off The Park..
“We scored worldies I think, didn’t cut them open too often and they’ve scored four from mistakes – in one way shape or form.
“The attitude, something that we don’t normally lack, but it’s becoming an ongoing that that Tuesday nights we are not at our best and it’s becoming an ongoing trend, we didn’t lose today but three defeats have been on a Tuesday and that wasn’t great.
“Very avoidable,” he added on the goals conceded. “The first goal has bounced between two or three people, miscontrolled it and the ball over the top, it’s a good save and a good save.
“Second goal is right through the ‘keeper, the third goal was a free header in the box, the number nine ran the game for them tonight I thought.
“The fourth goal, a chipped ball over the back and next minute it’s a penalty. It’s sloppy, lazy defending.”
Despite the rip-roaring nature of the eight-goal thriller, the game lacked any quality from both sides with shaky displays across the pitch.
After a hard-earned win with 10-men against Worksop on Saturday, Marine were flat and Young claims his side have to get fitter mentally and physically.
He continued: “It’s an element of some of them not being fit enough, some of the lads have been out for a number of weeks.
“We hadn’t played for two weeks on the back of that but it’s part-time football, it’s not like it was years ago lads are fast, fit and look after themselves in gyms.
“Teams are a lot more tactically astute and looked good out of possession but equally, they struggled defensively as well.
“It’s not so much the physical fitness, I’m talking about the physical and mental side aswell, you have to be in that zone to win football matches.”
Marine sit five points off the playoffs with four games in hand. The hosts had just over 20 minutes to hold onto their lead after White’s outstanding free-kick before Carberry fouled Symington in the box.
After edging their noses in front on the third occasion, Young felt it was an opportunity missed.
“I thought it was an opportunity missed when we went 4-3 up, I think you’ve got to hold on – when you’ve been rubbish, if you get the three points and move on – you do,” he said.
“Tonight overall the performance wasn’t good enough and they deserved a draw.”
[Featured Image: Susan Nugent]
