Eric Kinder on the 1-0 away win at Tranmere:

"We played very well in the first half and, for the most part, we dominated the whole game.

When we got them in to the dressing room at half time we told them that everything they were doing was spot on. The way we were playing, the enthusiasm, the attacking play, it was all really good, and we were just lacking a goal from it. To get to half time and have nothing to show for it was amazing.

Having said that, for all of the possession and good play, we didn't really create any clear-cut chances. There were plenty of half chances, but that was as far as it went.

I told them just to keep going for the second half, and to keep playing the game in the same way. Sometimes in Reserve and Youth team football, you find that the result can go against you, but you can look back at what was an excellent performance with a lot of positives. Fortunately the result went with us this time. 

The pro's were absolutely terrific for me, yet again. Thirls got his 60 minutes, and he absolutely sailed through it. He was begging me to let him stay on, but Dolly wanted him to play for an hour and we have to abide by that. He's been out for too long for us to take too many risks, so it was the right thing to do. He understands that, but he'd have stayed out there if I'd let him.

He typifies the atmosphere that we have around the place at the moment. He was really up for it, and put everything in to it, and it makes the club a really good place to be when you have a team spirit and desire like that, right throughout the squad.

We didn't quite play as well as we had in the first half after the break. Tranmere had a bit of a rocket, and they came out determined to do more, and it turned in to a really good game of football. They had more of the ball, but we always looked a real threat when we went forward.

They had an unfortunate sending off, which spurred them on as well, because they felt really aggrieved. I have to say, I sympathise with them fully, because their lad was chasing a long ball through. He clipped Chris Howarth, but there was no malice involved, so it was very harsh. The Ref was overly zealous all night, though, and he booked seven, and sent one off, in what was a relatively decent game. I felt that he was poor, as he didn't tap in to the spirit of the game at all.

We scored with 6 minutes to go, when Danny Carlton headed a Kev Gall corner past their keeper. I felt that it was what we deserved from the night. They may feel that they deserved a draw on the back of their second half display, but we blew them away first half, so I think the result was a fair one.

It's been a really good night for us overall. Our first half performance was definitely as good as anything we have done this season.

Thirls got his hour and played really well, Paul Reid played a full 90 minutes, and was fine, so he is right in amongst it now if the gaffer chooses to pick him. Yet again, Arnie was exemplary. He shows a superb attitude, whenever he goes out on to the pitch, and it sets a great example. Connor Tinnion had another half hour at this level, and he just gets better and better.

The bad news for us is that Dan Wordsworth has played his last game of the season. He has been hit with a four match ban, and that covers the first team fixtures as opposed to the Youth and Reserve games. That means that he will miss a total of nine games that he could have played in - three Reserve games, five Youth games and a Cumberland Cup final. So, his sending off has had a huge impact. It's a crazy ruling, in my opinion, but two red cards for the season has really nailed him. Obviously it now means that he has to hope that he has already done enough to impress the manager, as he won't now get another opportunity."

Team - Howarth, Arnison, Wordsworth, Reid, Campion, Gall, Joyce, Thirlwell (Tinnion 60), Hindmarch, Madine, Carlton. Subs - Carson, Duffy, Aldred, Cook.

United will play Penrith Town in the Cumberland Cup final at Brunton Park on Wednesday 16 April. Full match details to follow.