Manager Mike Frampton reflected on a “terrible” display by his Keswick side as they were knocked out of the High Sheriff’s Cup by Kirkoswald.
For the second successive Saturday, Keswick were beaten by three goals to nil at Crosthwaite Road. But Frampton was left frustrated by his players’ lacklustre performance on Saturday and a real contrast just a week after they had shown real fight in their Fred Conway Cumberland Cup quarter-final against Penrith AFC.
“We were terrible, really bad,” he said of the High Sheriff’s last eight defeat having seen his side concede three first half goals. “Everything we did well against Penrith we just didn’t do any of it on Saturday.
“KO were the far better side in the first half, we were really poor. Second half we had a bit more of the ball but they’d already won it, they were 3-0 up, they were comfortable. We barely made a chance. Compared to the week before and the aggression we showed.
“We just didn’t deserve anything. We just looked a different team to the Penrith game and we arguably had a stronger team this week, with a couple of lads back that I didn’t have the week before. It just didn’t happen for whatever reason.
“We just didn’t turn up. When we play a big physical side we lack a bit of physicality at times, could do with a couple of 6ft, old fashioned players. KO didn’t even have to bully us, we just weren’t good enough. We’ve got too many lads who need to be fitter. Fitness is a problem but as well as that it’s attitude.
“At Keswick I think they’ve had so many good players for years, won games and not had to get out of cruise control. We’ve started the season really well, got them all fit. We have a big cup quarter-final and we find out after the game three of them have been out all night the night before, hadn’t been to bed — you’re already losing, aren’t you?”
Frampton, who cancelled a training session earlier this month due to a lack of available players, used the team’s group chat this week to speak frankly and call for more transparency from his squad members as the title run-in looms.
Keswick are currently third in the JMP Foodservice Westmorland League Division I table, four points behind leaders Appleby with two games in hand. They host fourth placed Kirkby Lonsdale this Saturday but Frampton is again without several players.
“If we’ve got any hopes of winning the league we’ve got to win that one. We’ve got a few away but I can still put a decent team out,” he said.
“We’ve a chance in the league but the way we’re going we’re throwing it away. It’s quite frustrating when you’re running it. I know what they’re capable of if they get fit.
“I don’t know what the answer is. There is so much going on now. Years ago you’d just look forward to your football at the weekend. It’s just commitment. It was a massive fight last season, they nearly got relegated.
“We’ve obviously improved a lot from where we were last season but we’ve lost the second team.
“We’ve got 11 games left, hopefully we can get everyone back and make a good fist of it.”
Keeper scores amazing match-winning goal
Greystoke goalkeeper Joe Nichol was an unlikely match winner with an amazing goal as Greystoke progressed in the high Sheriff’s Cup on Saturday.
Joe hit the back of Sedbergh & Dent United’s net with a clearance from just outside his own penalty area as Greystoke won 1-0 and booked their spot in the semi-finals. He also hit the post 10 minutes later.
His goal came just a week after Jack Mandle, a goalkeeper for Greystoke’s reserve team, found the net as an outfield substitute in an 8-3 cup tie at Brough FC Seniors.
