Sleaford boss keen for quick response to Vase exit as league takes centre stage

Tom Ward says he’s keen for his Sleaford Town players to bounce back quickly from their FA Vase disappointment last weekend, as they return to league action on Saturday.
Tom Ward heads clear during the game with Newark & Sherwood. Photo: Steve W Davies Photography.Tom Ward heads clear during the game with Newark & Sherwood. Photo: Steve W Davies Photography.
Tom Ward heads clear during the game with Newark & Sherwood. Photo: Steve W Davies Photography.

The Greens were defeated at Newark & Sherwood United on penalties after a 0-0 draw, exiting the Vase at the first hurdle having had to play much of the game with ten men.

And Ward said it was disappointing to go out but that attention needs to quickly turn back to maintaining his team’s promotion push.

"It’s not the result we wanted as we obviously did want to continue in this competition, but it was a good opportunity for a lot of players too as we rested a couple, maybe too many overall.

"But the game ultimately turned on the red card decision which I think stopped us being able to play and in the end neither side created much which is why it finished 0-0.

“It was never in doubt that these boys will battle. Could we have put our foot on the ball still even though we were a man down for 70-odd minutes, I think we’re good enough to [have done so].

"We’ve got to be a little bit proud that we’ve gone through a lot of the game with ten men and kept it at 0-0, although I still think we’re good enough to have got ourselves a goal in the 90 minutes.

"We hadn’t practiced our penalties which is why we didn’t score many – I don’t know if Newark practiced theirs but they took theirs well and that was the difference on the day."

A disappointed Ward was wary of making sure there was no hangover as the team look towards a return to league action on Saturday at home to Heather St John’s

at The Longwater Stadium at Eslaforde Park – kick-off is at 3pm.

“Obviously we want to do well in these cup competitions,” he continued. “We want to win these cup competitions and we want to be competitive on lots of different fronts, but ultimately the league is the main thing for us and we’re keen to do well in that.

"We’re still in other competitions and it’ll continue to give lads who aren’t getting as many league minutes the chance to show us they’re good enough to do it in the league for us.”

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