Railway boss takes positives from Parkgate disappointment

The loss was the Locomotives’ fifth in succession and came as a result of them conceding three times inside 42 minutes against the NCEL Premier Division’s third-bottom team.

“Of course the result is disappointing, but if you take that out of the equation there were far more positives than negatives on the day,” Green said.

“I had 11 first team players unavailable and had to give four young lads their debuts, so it took the team the opening 45 minutes to gel.

“Parkgate really came at us, they played three up top and won the game in the first half.

“We resolved a few things at half-time and were brilliant in the second period. We outplayed Parkgate and bossed it really.

“When you take into account how young and inexperienced that side was, and how well they did second half, it’s very pleasing. It really was a game of two halves.”

Parkgate took a fifth-minute lead when Steven McDonnell got on the end of a long throw-in and nodded home.

Visiting centre-half Sam Chapman then headed into his own net to double the hosts’ advantage before Alex Lill lobbed number three over Leon Wrigglesworth in the Railway goal.

“I can’t understand for the life of me how Parkgate are in the bottom three, they looked a really good side in the first 45 minutes,” Green added.

“We got the reaction we wanted and did well after the break, but it’s about turning performances into results going forwards.

“We need to get some of our senior players back from injury and out on the pitch. We need that experience, particularly in the centre of our defence.

“That said, I’m proud of how well the younger lads have done. Ashar Bhogal is only 16, but he came on when Chris Ovington got injured and controlled the midfield, it was extraordinary. He’s only a slight lad, but he was outstanding.”

Railway remain 17th in the NCEL Premier despite the loss, 12 points clear of the relegation zone.