Hackett: Take the rough with smooth (From Halesowen News)

Hackett: Take the rough with smooth

2:58pm Thursday 1st November 2012 in Sport

STOURBRIDGE boss Gary Hackett encouraged the club’s supporters to have a moan at his players in the wake of their 1-0 home defeat to Bedworth United this week.
The Glassboys chief has been disappointed with his players’ performances in Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division recently.
Hackett said: “The players take the praise when they’ve played well, so they can take the criticism when they don’t.

“Our last four performances haven’t been up to the required standard. I’ve kept cool and patience, but now I’ve decided to bring in a couple of fresh faces.
“I’ve always been a loyal person and I’ve been in the game long enough not to get carried away.
“Three weeks ago we beat Chesham 5-0 to go top-of-the-table and I told everyone at the time, that was the easy bit. The hard part is staying there.
“It’s then when you see how players handle the pressure. Some complacency creeps in, so freshening things up could be just the kick up the backside that some people need.
“It was exactly the same players who beat Chesham that lost to Bedworth!”
The Glassboys fell victim to substitute Mitchell Piggon’s 82nd minute strike against Bedworth.

The dangerous Aaron Donaldson created the opening when squaring the ball across the face of goal.
Donaldson should have added a second moments later, but vollied wide.
Sean Geddes had earlier produced Stourbridge’s best effort from an inswinging corner which Bedworth goalkeeper Andy Kemp just managed to claw out before Jamie Oliver followed up only to see his shot strike a defender and deflect away.
Ben Billingham should return for Saturday’s trip to Weymouth after limping off in the Birmingham Senior Cup clash with Gornal Athletic, but has returned to training this week without any ill effects.