Stowmarket Town boss Richard Wilkins rues ‘naive’ squad’s missed chances against Needham Market in Suffolk Premier Cup defeat

Stowmarket Town boss Richard Wilkins put his side’s 7-0 defeat to Needham Market in the Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup quarter-final down to ‘naivety’ in his young squad at Bloomfields on Tuesday night.

Despite the scoreline, five changes to the line-up and their small squad, Stow caused the holders of the competition many problems in the first half, particularly through Jamie Bennett.

“I can’t fault the effort from the lads, but it’s the naivety, it’s the age and the lack of experience. We’re disappointed with seven from an individual point of view and I don’t think it was a fair reflection, certainly of the first half,” said Wilkins who told his side they were ‘unlucky to be losing’ at half-time.

“The midfield went walkabouts, we didn’t mark well enough. I was on the phone at about 10.30am trying to get some players in. I literally had one fit substitute and a goalkeeper. It was just bad timing. Players have gone, a few had Covid and then you find yourself fairly decimated.

“I thought we had four or five really good opportunities first half and we didn’t take them which was disappointing. In the second half we did well for 15 minutes but as soon as they scored the fourth we just lost our discipline a little bit.”

Wilkins’ Stow have set their domestic form as their main priority as they are still in search of their first three points of their Pitching In Isthmian League North Division campaign – which they will hope comes tomorrow when they travel to Walthamstow (3pm).

Already hit with a lot of absentees, Stowmarket will be without Ollie Sims after his short spell at the club came to an end with his return to Step 6 Cornard United.

“I knew it was going to be a massive struggle this year when I took it on,” said Wilkins.

“We’ve got to try and pick up points. It’s not easy talking to loads of players, trying to bring players in but they just want too much money and the days of the money at the club have gone. We’ve got to work with what we’ve got.”