Hicks hits out after defeat to Witches

CHRIS Hicks pulled no punches after Weymouth Sports’ second-half collapse against Witchampton United, describing it as ‘borderline disgraceful’.

The joint-boss watched his winless side hold the Witches to 3-3 in the first 45 minutes only to throw in the towel after falling behind after the restart.

Hicks told Echosport: “The second half was a horror show. We completely capitulated after a while and just gave up hope, which was the worst thing.

“It was a frenetic end-to-end game throughout with both sides creating plenty of chances. It was 3-3 at half-time and at times you could hardly catch your breath.

“They had extreme pace up front in a lad called Liam Cullen and at half-time we spoke about how we planned to stop him.

“We knew no one could keep up with him so the aim was to stop his threat at source by closing down their midfield and not allowing them any time to get the ball through to him.

“To be honest I might as well had saved my breath because for some reason our work rate dropped off in the second half and almost disappeared.

“As a consequence, the back four were left exposed and after the fourth and fifth went in our heads completely dropped.

“I couldn’t understand it because with the way the game had gone there was every chance we could get back into it.

“The attitude was just all wrong and to be honest it was embarrassing in the end and borderline disgraceful.”

Hicks went on to add: “Will Sonner had a good first half and a decent second half, considering he had a very little support around him, but that was the only positive we could take from it.

“The lads embarrassed themselves and the club, and they now need to have a good think and make sure they come back ready to make amends.

“Up until that 45 minutes the attitude and commitment has been pretty good this season and we have also played some good football at times despite not getting the results we have perhaps deserved.

“However, that was unacceptable and I will be making sure I get a response.”

Ben Thomas, Robbie Rolls and Sam Culpin were the men on target for Sports, who return to action on Saturday when they travel to basement boys Sturminster Marshall (3pm).

Sports: Parkes, Stroud (Taylor 46), Windust, Faulkner, Hicks, Thomas (Miles-Bell 70), Culpin, W Sonner, Bessant, Green (Sturmey 60), Rolls.