McManus: Players to blame for cup exit

A costly week in terms of pride, prestige and finances saw the Gladiators throw away a 2-0 lead at Northern League Whitley Bay before eventually losing 4-2 on penalties in the First Qualifying Round Replay after the sides were locked on 3-3 after extra-time.

As well as £3000 in prize money, the Premier Division club missed out on a home tie against North West Counties League Congleton Town in the next round and McManus, pictured, said: "It's no fault of the gaffer's, the players have to take responsibility for this.

"It's a lack of proper game management on our part, we shouldn't keep giving ourselves mountains to climb. We got ourselves back in the tie and were in control but then failed to see it out.

"We're all gutted just as the club officials and fans will be, there's no excuses. At 3-2 up all of a sudden we stopped doing the basics. Whitley Bay went gung-ho but we didn't keep the ball half as well as we should have done and we've got to learn quickly from this or else it'll come and bite us again."

McManus, whose day began at 10am with a journey up from London, was disappointed that his efforts came to nothing but is confident that they'll soon revert back to winning ways.

"I won't and none of us should complain about the travelling," he insisted. "Yes, it's extra gutting for me coming up from London but everyone's got to make a sacrifice to play football and it's sickening for us that the sacrifice has seen us get nothing. We were dominating the game and let it slip, we did the same against Halesowen and then conceded a silly goal which had us on the back foot.

"I'm sure we can bounce back, there's tons of ability in our squad but we've got to master the game management aspect and I'm sure we will. We're still in a half decent position in the league and the important thing now is picking up three points on Saturday [at home to Colwyn Bay] and getting on a good run in the league."

Image courtesy of www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk & www.telegraphandargus.co.uk

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