Runcorn Linnets manager Dave Wild was pleased with his side’s response to going behind against Skelmersdale United.
Elliot Morris’ superb chip put Skem in front shortly after the restart but a brace from Jamie Rainford plus goals from Sidi Sanogo Fofana and James Short completed the 4-1 rout to move Linnets into third.
Days earlier, a slow first-half proved costly in the FA Cup against Marske United as they went 2-0 down. Ally Brown halved the deficit in an improved second-half display but the Seasiders held on.
But Wild admitted the showing in the first half against the Northern Premier League Premier side left a “bitter taste”.
He told Off The Park: “The first-half just left a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth because looking at our second-half performance I think if we would’ve done that for 90 minutes, we would’ve won the game but that said I thought Marske were really good value for their money and their win.
“They were a very strong, professional outfit which we fully expected and I just feel they used the pitch, the wind and surroundings on the day better than what we did.
“Which for me is what ultimately won them the game, we did it in spells, we just didn’t take our chances which left us a little bit short. It was a tough draw and for me, we give a really good account of ourselves against a team who will be in the playoffs at least in the division above.”
Just a minute into the second half, Morris lobbed the Linnets shot-stopper to hand Richard Brodie’s side the lead in his first game in charge.
But the effort and endeavour in the second-half pleased Wild as they fought back. He said: “I thought that when they scored, I think they scored too early for themselves and probably killed them, in terms of momentum.
“I think they scored that early in the second half and I went ballistic at half-time, I think that was the rocket up the backside that we needed again. I’ve said it to the players and I’ve said it time and time again, we can’t just be a second-half team but ultimately for me, they was an opponent which was tricky for us to navigate past in the first-half.
“It took us a while to get used to the surface and our style of play was a little bit different to what we’ve been expecting of the lads recently, in the first-half, I just think it was another of us being too slow to get to the levels we expect.
“From the second we went 1-0 down, one to 11, the subs that came on, I thought we were absolutely outstanding, the effort, the commitment, desire to win first and second balls, all over the pitch we were just stronger than them.
“To be fair to Richard, he said the same thing in his interview, I just think on the day, our fitness and our togetherness is really starting to shine through now. It was a really pleasing night for me.”
The win saw Linnets rise to third but Wild isn’t getting carried away with the league position after six games.
“Across the course of the season, we’re going to have peaks and troughs like every team in the division.
“We’ll have a wobble at some point, it’s about us using our ability early to get points on the board. I’m not really looking at the table to be honest, I don’t really bother with the table until Christmas.
“It’s just early days to be looking at the table to be honest. “
