Simpson proudof his players

NEWBUILDINGS United manager Gary Simpson was obviously bitterly disappointed that his side were knocked out of the Coca/Cola Intermediate Cup at the quarter-final stage.
Newbuildings Steven Wallace, steps up an attacking move as he runs away from the Ards Rangers players, during their Intermediate cup quarter-final game at Newbuildings. INLS 1310-551MT.Newbuildings Steven Wallace, steps up an attacking move as he runs away from the Ards Rangers players, during their Intermediate cup quarter-final game at Newbuildings. INLS 1310-551MT.
Newbuildings Steven Wallace, steps up an attacking move as he runs away from the Ards Rangers players, during their Intermediate cup quarter-final game at Newbuildings. INLS 1310-551MT.

Nevertheless he was very proud of his players despite their defeat to Ards Rangers, on Saturday.

“To come so far in the cup and then not really turn up on the day is the biggest disappointment,” admitted Simpson.

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“To be fair to Ards Rangers, they were very committed and they deserved to win because of that. But decisions change games, and at 1-0 we had a stonewall penalty turned down and then they went up the field and made it 2-0.

“So, as much as I’m disappointed with the players for their performance wee things like that change games also.

“I’m disappointed not to get into the semis, but it was a great achievement to get where we did. But all credit to Ards Rangers because they were worthy winners.”

Simpson admitted that some of his players froze on the big stage particularly in the first half.

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“I was very, very disappointed with the first half performance because I think the players were playing the occasion rather than the game.

“We talked about that beforehand in detail, we wanted to treat it as a normal game but unfortunately we didn’t do that.

“A lot of the players were nervous and they weren’t comfortable getting on the ball which they usually are but I’m not going to have a go at them because they have been fantastic all season.”

The Newbuildings gaffer also felt the referee could have been stronger in terms of stopping what he viewed as the visitors’ time wasting.

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“I thought the referee, especially in the second half, had a poor game because it was quite obvious early on in the second half that they were time wasting and I felt if he had dealt with that then it wouldn’t have continued.

“But it’s a hard job for the referee also because he’s doing the job with no linesmen but we’re a wee bit disappointed with a few decisions, particularly the penalty decision, because that was a big turning point in the game.”