Eric Kinder gave us his thoughts on the Youth game at Bury on Tuesday:

"We lost by 2-0, but I was quite pleased with how we played.

They got a penalty just before half time, and then they got their second in about the 93rd minute, and that's always hard for any player to take.

We had to have the Reserve game against Chester in mind, so we were without the likes of Hindmarch, Madine, Stewart, Wood and Brown. None of those lads played. The good thing about that is that it gave us a chance to get a few of the U16's in, along with a trial player, and we could have a look at those.

It was a very hard game for them to come in for, because the surface wasn't the best, and I think both teams suffered for that. Us and Bury tried to keep the ball moving, but most of the things that were tried seemed to break down because of the state of the pitch, which is a shame.

I thought that their penalty was really harsh on us. We had just called for a free kick on the half way line when Jonny Blake was clattered, but the Ref played on. Matt Blake then came across to cover, and the ball hit his arm from very close range, and it was given as hand ball against him. It's one of those that we hate to see given against us, but it seems to be an easy decision for a Ref to give, simply because the ball hits the arm.

They put that one away, then he blew up immediately for half time. We had two or three half chances after the break, but there was nothing we can really shout about. To be fair, we didn't have any centre forwards today, and we rested some others, because that is the right thing for us to do. Getting these lads involved in Reserve football is more important than them playing at Youth level.

We conceded the second when we were chasing the game but, if I'm honest, it was a mis-matched side that we put out for this one. I can't fault them, though, because they have gone there and tried to play and they have done absolutely everything that I could have asked of them.

Like I say, they caught us on the break with the second goal when we had everyone pushed forward. They got the ball and they ran it down the flanks, and it left them with spare players at the back post to round it off.

The good thing for today was that we could look at the intake for next year, and it gave them a chance to begin to understand what they are going to come up against. It shows them what football is like at this level.

It's also a very tough way to finish the season for our Youth lads. There are 3 games in 8 days, and we also have the Reserve games to fit in. That's why I had no intention of using the lads who will feature in the Reserves. I don't want to start running these lads in to the ground for no real reason. I'm pleased, though, because we have had a very useful 90 minutes for some very young lads."

Team: Carson, Aldred, Wordsworth, M Blake (Brown 80), Duffy, Lakeland, J Blake, Hoban, Newsham (Wood 80), Hardman, Trialist.