Noble: "Players are giving me everything."
Updated: Mar 26
David Noble praised his players for their energy levels and commitment after they put another National League point on the board on Saturday.
Max Kretzschmar's fourth in his last five starts and his seventh for the season put the Stones 1-0 up at The Vale in front of a bumper crowd of 2102 on Non League Day, but Kidderminster fought back to level through Ashley Hemmings to ensure honours ended even.
Noble said he couldn't have asked for any more from his part-time players after the game came just 48 clear hours after the 1-0 defeat to Bromley on an energy-sapping pitch.
"We have got a lot of tired bodies in the group and there is no let up in the schedule," said Noble. "We've got nine games in 27/28 days so it's a lot of football, but I can only praise the boys. They are giving me everything. The pitch is very heavy and I'm proud of the effort they are putting. That's a huge positive as we are having to patch up players like Mason [Barrett].
"It was a very pleasing first half. We started really well. We had two or thee chances before we netted with a really good goal from Max. We really dominated the first half. The second half was a slightly different story. Kidderminster rallied and I'm sure Phil Brown would have told them [his players] about that first half. Kidderminster came out quick and we looked nervous out there and we got away from what gave us joy in the first half. We've conceded late so it feels like a defeat, but it's a point and another point on the board. They all count."
Defender Charlie Barker made his 35th appearance of the season and was again key in a result that leaves the Stones in 16th with nine games to play.
"If we had got a second it puts the game to bed," said Barker. "The second goal would have killed the game. When it's 1-0, they are still fighting and they came out and made a strong start to the second half.
"We were just defending and under a lot of pressure at times. We went a bit more direct and perhaps we didn't need to. We played good football in the first half and it got us up the pitch. The second half we went a bit back to front and it kept coming back. But we created chances and when the goals start to come, we'll start turning these results [at home] into wins."
• Pictures by Jon Taffel
Get to know your new Manager
Meet David Noble and his management team at this Q&A session in the Main Hall at The Vale on Wednesday. This event will start at approximately 7.30pm, after the club AGM concludes.
