Report by Julian Tyley
Assistant manager Barry Rizza summed up the feelings of everyone associated with the club when he described Whitley’s penalty shoot-out defeat to Barton Town as “massively disappointing”.
A game that never reached any great heights in terms of entertainment ended in a 0-0 draw and history repeated itself when for the fourth successive season Whitley went out of the Vase on penalties.
“Obviously we know the history of the Club and how much the Vase means and the fans have turned out in their droves. Listen, the players are disappointed, as are the management disappointed, but more so for the fans.
“I think we dropped a level today. They (Barton) played quite long and it got scrappy. I wanted the lads to move the ball quicker, step up a gear and play with tempo but we just didn’t click today.
“Mauro’s done his job, the defence have done their job as well and once again the lads have apologised for missing those chances but Barton got into areas to clear them.”
Barry agreed that when it comes to penalties it’s a lottery. “To be honest I had that feeling, I don’t think it was our day and to be honest I said to the lads I don’t think we deserved to be in the next round.
“Penalties can be a lottery. I’m not going to call people out. The game should have been won in the 90 minutes and not left until penalties.”
