Fleet’s Collapse In Time Added On Hurts McMahon

A penalty from Danny Kedwell and a fine finish from Luke Coulson put the Vanarama National League club 2-0 ahead against League One Doncaster Rovers.

But as the board went up and the announcement of two added minutes went up, McMahon’s side self destructed.

Matty Blair and John Marquis scored to take Donny in level and they went into overdrive in the second half to go home 6-2 winners.

The Fleet boss, like everyone else, knew where they went wrong in an entertaining first round weekend.

“It was disappointed, and it changed the game totally,” he said after the match. “We have got the players to match sides in their league but we didn’t have the professionalism.

“That’s when we lost the game, even thought it was level at half time. It really got away from us.

“We were saying ‘get to zero at half time’ but we didn’t and it cost us really. As difficult an experience as it was from the moment they scored, we have to learn from it.

“We have to learn to kick the back out ten times if it means getting to half time without letting in a goal.”

But there were positives to take for the Irishman.

“We showed in the first 45 minutes that we have players of good technical ability,” he adds. “We showed we can match good teams.

“We have to be a bit more professional, a bit more ruthless and a bit more clinical. We should have see it though.

“We are trying to evolve as a club, but you have got to do your jobs, especially against a strong League One club. We played so well for 45 minutes until they scored, but you can’t just play well for 45 minutes.

“We have learned that the hard way, that’s for sure.”