‘It wasn’t thegreatest ofgames’ - Carlyle

INSTITUTE’S joint manager Paul Carlyle knows last weekend’s win over Kilroot Rec certainly wasn’t a cup classic.

In fact Carlyle was fuming at how bad his side performed against the junior men and he believes his young side need to find a ruthless streak if they harbour any hopes of making it to a higher level.

“It wasn’t the greatest of games,” insisted Carlyle.

Kilroot came and set their stall out and worked hard, they made it difficult but the boys took the foot off the gas.

“They weren’t under pressure so bad habits came in. They are going to have to be more clinical and professional in their attitude.

“Their application in training has been super and they are looking to play football, but some people switch off and take breaks and a lot of them had a break against Kilroot.

“Good sides kill teams off and go and score 5, 6 or 7 goals but we just didn’t do it on Saturday.

“You could say we were looking at the game next week but that’s rubbish. We had to get this game over with first and then worry about the Donegal Celtic tie next week.”

Carlyle was also frustrated that the players at the minute don’t seem to be learning.

“I’m sounding like a broken down record, but we have a lot of young players and they are still learning, but there is experience in the squad too, who should be pushing them on.

“Once they cross the white line there is nothing we can do, they know what has been done in training and what is expected off them at training, but to be honest maybe six or seven of them didn’t apply that on Saturday.

“We were always comfortable but while the game was still only 1-0, they have a chance and if they had have scored then what you see then is that they automatically lift their game.

“We should have been ready for this cup tie since last Tuesday night at training and ensured that we did a professional job, but some of them just switch off and we are going to have to keep on at them about this.”

Teenage keeper Martin Gallagher made his debut in Saturday’s cup win, but Carlyle knows he will have bigger test than Kilroot Rec.

“Martin is only 19-years-old and to be honest he wasn’t tested at all, but he’s a quality young keeper, myself and John Cunningham have worked with him at Maiden City Soccer, so he has been well coached since he was a young boy and he’s a good lad as well.”

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