We spoke to striker Richie Bennett at full time on Saturday to get his thoughts on the 1-1 draw with Cambridge United at Brunton Park.
“It was frustrating in the end,” he said. “We got a good start to the second half with the early goal, but in the space of a couple of minutes they’d scored a scrappy goal, which we’re disappointed with as a whole team.
“The lads are disappointed in the dressing room. We knew it was a big game and, on another day, we’d probably have won 4-1 or 5-1. Their keeper has made some great saves and kept them in the game. In the last ten minutes it was all us and I don’t think they had anyone playing as a striker on the pitch."
“I thought my chance in the first half was going in, but the keeper has pulled off a worldie of a save," he told us. "It was more of a reaction from me. I think Mark [Ellis] flicked it on and I knew I just had to get some contact on it and keep it down.
"The keeper got down really well to be fair to him. I’ve had a few chances like that this season and I know I should be finishing them. If that goes in, we go 1-0 up early in the game, which would have changed things.
“The lads have just said in the dressing room that our performance today was a lot better than it was last week, but we’ve still only come away with a draw. It’s all about small margins. We probably could have got another goal but, as I’ve said, the keeper has pulled off some great saves. We’re disappointed because we know we needed to win.
“All we can do is keep improving and keep working hard. Unless the play-offs are mathematically impossible we’ll all keep pushing as hard as we can to try and get in there."
Looking back to his stunner against Crawley, he said: “I enjoyed my goal last week - but I do prefer those three-yard tap-ins, like I had today!
"They all count, and I’ll take any goal that comes my way. At Barrow last season I think most of my goals came from the second phase of play. That's probably something I haven’t done enough of this season. It’s something I need to get better at and probably be a bit more ruthless in front of goal."
On his own upturn in form, he told us: “At the start of the season I wouldn’t say I was questioning myself, because I’ve always had the belief, but it probably took a bit longer than I wanted it to in terms of settling in to the games.
"It’s obviously a big step up from the conference and it did take longer for me to get used to things than I wanted it to. I think I’m finding my feet now and hopefully I can have a big impact at the end of this season and next season.
"Confidence is a massive part of it, especially for a striker. It’s about doing the simple things well and building your own confidence up. Once you get that I think everything else comes with it. I’m going out onto the pitch now knowing that I’m going to score."
“Every game is massive as we come towards the end of the season," he continued. "Each game has to be treated like a cup final and I know the lads and the gaffer are all thinking like that. We want to be pushing for the play-offs, so wins are vital now. We’ve got to go into each game believing we can get the three points.
“I’ve got my eye on Hallam [Hope] for the top scorer spot ... but we’ll see where we are in seven or eight games!”
Click HERE to watch an interview with Richie Bennett on iFollow United now.