Eric Kinder on the Penrith game
United coach Eric Kinder spoke to us about the Cumberland Cup semi-final victory over Penrith on Monday night.
“We didn’t really get going in the first half,” he said. “We didn’t get anywhere near close enough to them and they were better than us. They had a real go and they deservedly went into the break in the lead.
“I don’t think we could argue with the fact that they were in front at all because they handled things better and they set about us. Their lad had all the time in the world for their goal and he punished us for that.
“We weren’t very good at all so we had a few harsh words to say. In the end we came out of it as quite comfortable winners.
“The second half was better for us. Andy Welsh got his goals, which included a rare header from him, and Danny Cadamarteri rolled a decent finish over the line.
“I think it was really important that the lads reacted to what we asked them to do at half time. We set our standards much higher than what we had been seeing and it was pleasing to see things come together. Penrith have made us battle for everything they got and they can take real credit for that. It’s another game where we have been made to work really hard and it’s a competition where you don’t always get your own way.
“I’m always pleased when my youth players are involved. We put Tom [Berwick] at left back, which was new for him, and that was his first test for a while. He ran out of steam a bit at the end, which was to be expected, but we were able to put Patrick Brough in there as a replacement. Jack Lynch got a run out and he was as steady as ever. He keeps things simple and gets on with his job.
“Overall it has been a bitterly cold night but we’ve got the job done. We’re in the Cumberland Cup final again and the chairman always insists that it’s a competition we should be winning. We’ve got to the final and we have to be happy with that.
“It’s been interesting for us to learn that no team has won this competition three times in a row in the modern era. That’s something for us to try and achieve.
“It’ll be an interesting April for the youth team in particular because we have the northern final of the Youth Alliance Cup that month as well. We played them [Walsall] in the league recently and the game was much closer than the score line suggested.
“What we did learn from that game is that Walsall are a very decent side. We have a lot of games between now and the end of the season and there is definitely a lot for us to play for.
“I think we have to say a big thank you to Penrith for the way they have looked after us. We agreed to play the game down here and hopefully it has helped with what looked to be a very good crowd. Other than the fact that it was unbelievably cold, I think it has been a good night for everyone.
“We have our fingers crossed for Curtis Wood. He looked to be in a bit of pain but the initial reports are that it won’t be anything too serious. We all send him our very best wishes.”