Hammers boss Simkin praises Gosport for 'Professional Job'
on 18/09/06 by Andy Starmore
Hamworthy United boss Phil Simkin was philosophical following his side’s 2-0 defeat at home to Gosport Borough at the weekend.

The Hammers gaffer was understandably disappointed with the final outcome and praised his own outfit for putting up a good fight against the title favourites.

Hammers boss Phil Simkin watches closely by the dugout

“I’m depressed because we lost the game but we gave it our best shot,” Simkin told Pitchside.

“On the day it turned out to be not our day and the second goal they got killed us really.

“It was on the stroke of half time and it was a complete fluke but, good luck to them. They got the breaks and we didn’t.”

Adam Camfield struck the first goal for Gosport after 12 minutes but on another day it may well have been ruled out with Brett Williams having his shorts almost pulled off leading up to the goal.

The second goal by Dave Birmingham was fortuitous to put it mildly but, Gosport took their chances when they arrived and looked relatively comfortable at the back.

Simkin explained his views on the opening goal, “I was very unhappy with the referees performance. Their first goal the lad was straggling Brett Williams’ shorts off but the ref didn’t pick it up.

“Overall though, I thought we put up a fair shout. On another day, who knows what might happen.

“We had a go at them and against the majority of sides in this league we would probably have picked up three points but, they’ve got some quality players in their side, as you would expect with the money they’re paying.

“Under pressure they stood up to it and took the points, so really, there’s nothing complicated about it, they were just better than us.

“We had a good go at them and I don’t think there was much more we could have done to be honest.”

So were they the best the Hammers have played against so far this season?

“No, the best side we’ve played so far by a mile was Lymington Town last Tuesday night.

“Experience is a big thing in football. They can see things before they happen.

“I can see Gosport winning the league though, because they give nothing away.

“They’ve come here today and done a professional workmanlike job.

“They got their noses in front and they stayed there.

“The thing with today was they’ve got more experience in certain positions and in games like this that’s where it shows.

“They’ve got some really good players and we couldn’t keep them out because we didn’t have the resources to hold them.

“We’re looking to add a couple of new players to the squad this week.

“We’ve had a very difficult start fixture wise but I’m quite pleased with the way we shaped up today and I’ve got no fears for the future at all.

“That was only our second home league fixture. The other one was against Wimborne, who nicked it 1-0.”

There has been problems with the Hammers pitch this season, with their opening league home fixture being switched and played at Cowes Sports but, as Simkin points out, not one person groaned about the state of the pitch today, rightly so.

“Nobody moaned about the pitch today and I don’t think it’s that bad,” added Simkin.

“I have to say at the start of the season it wasn’t too good but I also think we were very harshly treated.

“How can we improve the pitch inside four days (they played a home fixture four days after the Cowes match). It was absolute rubbish the way we were treated.”

Simkin ended his conversation with Pitchside on a positive note for all Hammers fans.

“I’ve got no worries whatsoever that we’ll be up and running before too long.”

Read his opposite number Alex Pike’s views on the game tomorrow.

Photos from this match will also appear on the site shortly.