Spartans midfielder Neal Hooks praised his side’s battling qualities after the 0-1 defeat at Chorley and felt the game was there for either side to win. Only a superb long range effort from Magpies midfielder Dale Whitham denied Spartans a point in what was a very evenly matched and keenly contested game and Hooks feels either side would have been good value for their win. He said “We were unlucky there and it was a hard fought game and could have went either way to be honest. We kept at it and it was a battle at times but I really felt we deserved to take something from the game. For the goal the ball has sat up perfectly for the lad and he’s struck it well, there was literally nothing Conor could have done with it to be honest”.
Whilst Richie Slaughter walked away with the man of the match award from the Spartans directors, it was front man Andy Jennings who took the award from the hosts and Hooks was full of praise for the former Billingham Synthonia man. Hooks commented “He battled away today and it’s something different up there. He is strong on the ball and great in the air so he hold it up well. He is definitely an out ball for us if we are under pressure and we need to start getting up there and supporting him quicker but that’ll come in time.”
With Evo-Stik Northern Premier League strugglers Kendal at Croft Park next Saturday Hooks feels that the game is set up to be a massive one for his side as they look to climb the table during the second half of the season. He said “It’s definitely a big game for us and one where we will be expected to take the initiative. We are in good form at home at the moment and we need to capitalise on that and kick on from there again.”