Report by Julian Tyley
Bay manager Jay Bates was understandably in upbeat mood after watching his side win 3-2 at in-form Marske United, with a last minute winner giving them all three points.
“It was a tremendous performance. Looking back on this week, it’s been a stressful week. After the Easington game we had a couple of injuries, with Regan out for ten weeks with his ankle ligament damage and we knew Kyle was away so we were looking in the transfer market at what we could get.
“To go to Marske who’ve won their last five game, we were thinking we’re a bit stretched, but I managed to bring in Michel Baxter, who I’ve known for about 5 years, and he’s come in to help out today. And that’s exactly what he’s done. He’s come in and you can see what he’s got, a lot of heart, a little bit of quality. We’re happy for that, and to come to Marske after they’ve dominated their last 5 games and got a win midweek against Boro Rangers, that was a terrific result.
“When we travel away we still get the fans which is a good thing and it’s a pleasing thing to see the fans are getting in behind us. Now its unbeaten in 4 games ourselves so we’re on a little run, I know there’s a couple of draws in there but it’s positive.”
Did he think it was a deserved win? “Very much so, I really do think it was a deserved win I think we could have gone in at the break at 4-1. We got caught on the first goal. George wasn’t tight on his man but he made up for it with his goal. Their keeper’s made a couple of good saves, a really good one against Callum Larmouth, so yes, we could have been going in 4-1 at half time.
“We came out a little slow second half. Micky Scott’s playing through an injury at the minute and the lad got there in front of him. It was a little bit frustrating that they’d pulled it back to 2-2 but I think in the last 15-20 minutes we were starting to get back on top and create a few more chances. The goal that was offside with Michael Baxter, I’ll have a look at that because I don’t think it was offside. But yes, it was a good result.
“Over the last few games, it hasn’t fallen our way but fortunately today it did fall our way so I’m happy with that.”
Looking ahead to the next game it’s another trip to one of the in-form sides at the top of the table.
“West Auckland, they’re a good team and especially to go there on a Tuesday night it’s going to be very difficult. I think they won 4-0 today (at Guisborough) so they’re going to be on an up. They’ve been keeping clean sheets in the last 3 games at least, so it’s going to be very difficult but we’ll be there in high spirits after today’s performance. We’ll go and put everything on the line again.”
Jay agreed that performance and confidence levels have come on strongly since the FA Vase win at Longridge. “They have, no doubt about it. I knew what these lads could do. I think we’re in the wrong position in the table. The luck hasn’t been falling for us, but today it has. It’s upbeat in the dressing room. It’s been a while since we’ve had this feeling in the league, you go back to the first game of the season when we beat Whickham. But after this win, let’s put the music on, relax and enjoy this win because we need to do that.
“Every game is a team performance but yes, there are individuals that put everything on the line every game. Jakey Forster again putting himself out of position, I know we keep saying this. Meeshi Kanda had a good game, Joe’s came out of his centre half position to play in the middle of the park. Baxter, he’s got heart and he’s got desire and you’ll never take that away from him. He hasn’t played this level of football but he put it on the line all day and he’ll chase things all day. Then Micky Scott playing through an injury. There’s a lot of players you could pick out there and say they’ve done really well. Robbie Christie was injured on Tuesday. He wasn’t meant to be playing today but he’s pulled himself around because Parky (Luke Parkinson ) got injured.
“There’s many people we could point out. Jake is a handful, he puts himself about. He makes the defenders work. He’s a ‘point’ as well. He held up the ball well for the second goal for Baxter. He’s played it around the corner through the defenders, a lovely ball. That’s what he does, he gives you that energy.”
What was the message to the players at half time after going 2-1 up just before the break? “More of the same second half. Keep doing what we’re doing, creating chances, playing to the front man. Go in behind when we need to. Keep playing the football the way we do. We always like to play from the back, that’s the way football should be, not go long, long, long.”
