Kevin Horlock reflects on Needham Market's pre-season campaign following 2-2 draw at AFC Sudbury
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00:00Kev, obviously the end of pre-season now finishes with a 2-2 draw entertaining one against AFC Sudbury. What did you make of it?
00:11It was a tough game for us and I think that's why we had the fixture. Obviously I know Abo really well, he's a really good coach and manager.
00:17They've got some really good players, some that could possibly be at the level we're going into so it was important that we had a mixture of fixtures in pre-season to finish with a tough one away.
00:28At Sudbury it's always tough here. I've never had an easy day here so to come and play a Sudbury team which is well-drilled, to play a different formation to what most teams do and they're really good at it.
00:41So it was a tough test for us and it was about us getting used to that and dealing with it. I've just said to the players there about having players that can deal with issues and problems in the moment,
00:52not waiting until half-time or waiting until me or Tom shout instructions on them. It was a good, hard test and I'd say it was entertaining. A few goals, a couple of penalties I think.
01:04Great double save from Marco.
01:06That's Marco. It was a good game for us to finish on although it's obviously raised a few questions from our part.
01:13It probably wasn't great today. They pressed really well but I want us to be a bit braver than we were today and we have been generally. We had a fantastic season last year.
01:22Pre-season has gone reasonably well, albeit from playing teams in the lower division but I don't mind whether you win, lose or draw. You obviously want to win games to create momentum but pre-season is about getting minutes in the legs,
01:38coming up against teams that cause you problems and trying to resolve those problems. In that respect, today's was a really good game for us and prepares us nicely for next week.
01:48Yes, brilliant. And a last look at a trialist as well in that second half?
01:53Yes, he's done really well. We've had a few in training and playing with us and obviously we've got decisions to make. We'll sit down and have a chat with me and Tom today, tomorrow and then we'll finalise the squad before training on Tuesday and Thursday.
02:10Brilliant. And the club's got a big event. You're doing a kit launch on Thursday as well?
02:14Yes, a new kit is coming. I think we've got names and numbers on the shirts this year. A little old Needham, a little village club playing at Step 2, which is historic obviously and fair play to the lads. They deserve all the applause they got.
02:26So, we'll enjoy it. We'll enjoy that moment. It's nice doing little bits like that, putting a new kit on and having photos and team photos but the real work starts on Saturday.
02:36Curzon Ashden away, first one. It would have been nice to be at home first one but it is what it is. We're going to have to play everybody, home and away.
02:44Back up to Manchester for you?
02:46Yes, I think it's the red side of Manchester as well so I could be up for a bit of stick I reckon but it is what it is. Where we go there, we're going to give it our all. We're underdogs no doubt in all the games. Probably we're quite famous to get relegated but I've got a sneaky feeling we might surprise a few.
03:01Brilliant. Well, all the best of luck for it.