Although happy with the Official Club Website naming him as the Man of the Match on his full league debut, Simon Russell couldn't hide his disappointment. Not only for the players who had unjustly fallen to another defeat in the Blue Square Premier League but also for the large support who had yet again followed United on the road.

"Coming fresh to the Club you can't believe the fantastic turn out that this Club gets. Even with the Club not flying in the league, for as many people to travel here today is superb loyalty and to not be able to give then something to go home with hits all of us hard.

"We so want to give them something back for their loyalty and the performance today lacked everything but a finish to give them something to cheer. So it's nice to be named as the United Man of the Match but I'd swap it straight away for a result."

Reflecting on another defeat, Simon can take some positives from the way an injury hit United team battled back from going a goal down so early.

"We started poorly and to be honest we were all over the place for the first ten minutes and Crawley saw that and got straight down our throats and during that time they got the break with the goal. That said once we had weathered the storm and we were then on top for the majority of the match and it's a travesty that we've got nothing out of the game.

"We knew that they have experienced pros in their side, especially in the middle and at the back. They know the game at this level and what to do. They were always going to be looking to play down the side and over the top for Charles Ademeno who has the pace and that is their main threat. So to deal with that we went on the front foot to close them down as quickly as possible and I thought we did that quite well."

With a midweek trip to Salisbury City for the FA Trophy replay the next stop for United, Simon spelt out exactly the passion and commitment that the team want to show to progress in the competition.

"We have something to prove to everyone at Salisbury. Since I arrived at the Club the results we have had have not mirrored the level of performances. Even the match against York, we were the better team but thanks to a deflected goal we found ourselves without a point.

"People say when you are on a run like we are then your luck is out but I believe hard work and the right attitude turns that luck around. We will go there with the right attitude, roll our sleeves up work hard and show the same commitment as those fans who have travelled today."

Interview by David Gray

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