DOWN but not downhearted was Atherton Colls manager Chris O'Brien 's message following his team's 3-0 NWCL Division One defeat at Flixton.
"We played well there's no two ways about it," said O'B. "Although I'm certainly not happy with the result there isn 't much I could find fault with that I don't already know about.
"Twice Flixton went forward in the first half and twice they scored but otherwise we had the majority of pressure.
"We must have had 20 corners. All I could say to the lads at half time was go out there and play like that again.
"We did but Flixton caught us on the break for their third goal. "Going forward we play some terrific stuff but defensively we are naive.
"We just don 't have the necessary mental toughness at the moment to kill teams off when the opportunity is there.
"I need to bring two or three players in to freshen things up that little bit.
"Otherwise I'm quite happy with what I'm seeing. The big bonus has been the youngsters who have come in from the reserves. "They have been superb and on Saturday one of them, Ian Gibson, was by far our man of the match.
"He started at right back and finished at centre half but he took it all well within his stride which for a young player is very encouraging."
Colls' trip to Great Harwood Town tonight is off as they have a rearranged LFA Marsden Challenge Trophy Round One fixture at Rossendale United tomorrow night.
The tie was postponed last week. Centre back Mark Parry misses the cup tie through injury.
Defending at set pieces is causing great concern at the moment for Daisy Hill manager Brian Richardson after seeing his side go down 5-2 at Warrington Town.
"We started well but suddenly we are two down and we have only ourselves to blame," he explains.
"A free kick was allowed to go right across the face of our box and was put in at the far post and then our defending from a corner was terrible.
"We get it back to 2-2 then concede another sloppy goal right on the break.
"Left to chase the game we got caught out. All in all not the best day we 've had and it 's so frustrating.
"We are just not committed enough in defending corners and free kicks."
Daisy ' first goal came from Ryan Cain following a surging run from RLA Foods man of the match Steve Wye and the second was converted by a Warrington defender following a goal mouth melee.
Daisy now travel to Colne on Thursday night with striker Adam Entwistle back after a six week suspension and Paul Prescot from holiday.
This week 's fixtures:-
Tomorrow Night - FA UMBRO Trophy Round One replay - Radcliffe Boro v Leek Town
LFA Marsden Trophy Round One - Atherton LR v Burscough, Rossendale Utd v Atherton Colls
Thursday Nov 23 - NWCL Division Two - Colne v Daisy Hill .
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