Cobh’s slow second half start costs them
REACTION
Daire Walsh
THERE was disappointment for Cobh Ramblers at the UCD Bowl yesterday evening, when they succumbed to a 3-0 reversal at the hands of Collie O’Neill’s impressive UCD outfit.
The Students’ goals all arrived after the half-time break, and Cobh manager Stephen Henderson stated that the second half of the game represented the worst football his side have played all season.
“Yeah, the second half was the worst we’ve played, to be honest with you, this year. That’s really disappointing, because we worked really hard to stay in the game and we effectively gifted them three goals,” Henderson remarked.
“I thought we had set-up right, the goalkeeper didn’t have a save. It’d be very hard to criticise them too much, because they’ve been brilliant. I don’t know what happened in the second-half. I really don’t. That’s the truth, it’s just a collapse.”
Following an encouraging display in the opening period, the visitors were in an ideal position for a positive result when the action resumed.
However, a 50th minute goal from UCD midfielder Robbie Benson opened the floodgates, and Henderson believes it is a concern that they are making slow starts to the second halves of games.
“It’s a bit of a concern, because we’ve started the second halves of games slowly, and it is a concern.
“We have to figure out what that is. Is it something I’m doing at half-time? If it’s my fault, I’ll put my hand up, but if it’s their fault, they better start putting their hands up.”
Following an impressive run of form – which saw Cobh picking up seven points from the last nine available – this is certainly a set-back for the fifth-placed Ramblers.
“UCD are the best team in the league. It will be a travesty if they don’t go up, and that’s the truth.
“They deserve to be in the Premier Division, playing against Premier players. We have to take where we are.
“All the good things that we’ve done, we have to kind of park it and now we have to go again and regroup,” Henderson added.