Marsden FC boss Luke Haigh was left frustrated by his team’s performance on Saturday as they lost their first game of the season, going down 1-0 to Mount St Mary’s.
Haigh’s side had won all 10 league games up to Saturday, and had beaten Mount St Mary’s in both league and cup. Marsden had switched the game to a 4G pitch at Leeds Road Sports Complex to beat the freezing weather.
The game was decided by two crucial penalties. Mount scored theirs but Marsden missed a second half spotkick which could be levelled the game.
Despite the defeat Marsden remain top of the Yorkshire Men’s Amateur League Division 2 on 30 points after 11 games.
On the result and manner of performance Haigh said: “I was dismayed at our display from start to finish. We constantly work on possession-based football with a high press, and we did neither well.
“Complacency crept in at its finest in this one. We were 10 from 10 in the league and had already beaten Mount St Mary’s twice, once in the cup and once in the league. Some of the lads must have felt they could just turn up and the opposition would roll over for us.
“That’s not the way football works. You have got to roll your sleeves up at times and go toe-to-toe with the opposition. There was zero football played from the first whistle, poor first touches, lack of urgency and no communication.
“Hopefully this is just a blip on the road however there will be changes made for our next game because this simply wasn’t good enough at all.
“Fair play to Mount St Mary’s they wanted it more than us, they showed more desire and commitment and thoroughly deserved the three points. I wish them well for the rest of the season.
“The league is still in our own hands but this is a massive wake up call for the boys because if we are to jump up a couple of divisions next season we simply can’t play like this.”
Check out Huddersfield Hub photographer SEAN DOYLE’S gallery of images from the match
