Manager Tom Bulley remains positive about Barnstaple Town
THERE was plenty of pride and positivity to take from Barnstaple Town's performance at Cadbury Heath – but still no points.
Their winless run in the Toolstation Western League extended to 19 games with a 3-1 defeat, yet manager Tom Bulley had nothing but praise for his team.
"The players are a credit to the club after that performance," he said. "We have played third in the league and almost made them look like we were the top team and they were struggling.
"The loyal fans who travelled up said it was the best they have seen the team play for a long while.
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"People will pick up the Journal and see Barnstaple have been beaten again.Performing so well and getting nothing from it is hard."
Cadbury needed late strikes from substitutes Mark Reynolds and Sam Duggan for a win that kept them in the premier division title hunt.
Barnstaple believed two of the goals were offside and they also felt aggrieved that home goalkeeper Simon Crawford escaped with a yellow card after bringing down Matt Rickard.
To compound Barnstaple's frustrations, Crawford then saved the resulting penalty from Rickard.
After last week's 6-1 hammering by Odd Down, Bulley was looking for a response from his players.
In the second minute, Barnstaple's Jed Harper-Penman sent over a cross and Luke Evans saw his header come back off the inside of the post.
Trailing to a goal from Matt Huxley, the visitors hit back before half time through Rickard.
They also had a goal ruled out when Kieran Jewell was judged to have fouled the keeper as he challenged for a header.
Barnstaple have signed Darren Hawkings from Willand Rovers, although the experienced defender is unlikely to be available for a couple of weeks.
On Saturday, they travel to Radstock Town who are without a win in six matches.
Barnstaple's position at the foot of the table looks even more desperate after Wells City and Bridport, the teams immediately above, both picked up a point each.
"Every game we go into we are looking to win," said Bulley. "After that performance on Saturday, it's going to be hard to change the team."
"We are still trying our best to stay in this division. If we play like that and stick to our game plan, I'm confident we'll stay up."
Comments
by devonfooty
Friday, February 08 2013, 2:16PM
“I don't know of any body that dose not want Barnstaple Town FC to succeed & avoid relegation. I would challenge the fact whether Mr Bulley has the local knowledge to know the the talented players in the area when he hasn't basically been around this area since being born in Barnstaple. It is also getting very boring with his comments about we should have won or we won the second half or draw when the only thing that really matters right now is actually winning & gaining the points that are desperately needed at this stage of the season. I'm very sure he will run out of excuses but that won't matter if he manages to get his first win then I'm sure the Teams confidence & performances will dramatically improve. I am very confident this weekends game against fellow strugglers Radstock Town is where the season starts for Barnstaple with three points in the bag. I just can't see any other result, it's a must win. The Team Mr bulley has at his disposal now must provoke envy amongst other Western League Teams managers & they may also feel if only we had the budget to do the same ?. It seems the financial crisis at Barnstaple is over which is great news for Mr Bulley who has wasted no time spending the bigger budget on Agent fees to bring the best players in, mainly from outside the area. Mr Bulley you have the budget, the team & sympathetic supporters please no more excuses.”