Print Friendly, PDF & Email

TUFC head coach Gary Owers showed his frustration at his side not finishing two good second-half chances in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Maidstone United.

A late winner for Maidstone came from full-back Josh Hare.

“That’s something that has cost us dearly in the last couple of games,” said Owers. “We’ve got no-one but ourselves to blame.”

“I thought we were worth a point on the balance of play and two blinks of an eye you’ve probably seen the summary of our season. A goal out of nothing at one end and obviously a guilt-edges chance at the other end and we can’t convert it into a goal. That was alongside Connor’s header which was the other outstanding chance in the second half. To be fair that was a good save by their ‘keeper.”

United nearly snatched a point in the dying minutes when Jon-Paul Pittman found himself free in the box, but his shot went wide of the far post.

“You’ve got to score. I’m not being critical or personal but we’ve made chances like that all season and if wwe’d converted more then we wouldn’t be in this position but we don’t take them. That’s a point instead of nothing again. That’s where we are.”

Defender Jakub Sokolik came off at half-time due to illness.

“He was ill on Thursday, and to be fair to him he got himself in on Friday – did a little bit of training and declared himself fit. Obviously under the weather and we had to bring him off at half-time.”

Bristol City loanee Connor Lemonheigh-Evans made his first start for United on Saturday.

“I thought he was fine. It’s tough to come into these games. He won’t play on artificial surfaces where he plays and he was unfortunate. He had a good chance, a great header, and the ‘keeper made a good save.”

United are running out of games to secure their place in the National League for next season. Important games are coming and going, and United need to secure wins as soon as possible, starting with another away trip, this time to Leyton Orient on Tuesday.

“We keep saying that. I’m sure everyone’s writing us off but we haven’t given up, the lads haven’t given up – I can guarantee everyone that. We’re going to see it through right till the bitter end. It will be a tough game. I might just shuffle it; might have a think about having a look at some of the guys that haven’t featured and give them a chance. We have to consider every option at the moment.”

Leyton Orient Vs Torquay United | 13/03/18 | Kick-Off 7:45pm | For travel and entry prices click here.