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" It was very positive in both halves. We had to make a lot of changes in the second-half as Carlisle did. I just felt that in the second-half possibly their little diamond formation with (Paul) Thirlwell coming on etc. just caused us problems. They were a little bit static I felt first-half were Carlisle in their movement with 4-4-2 and we were able to contain a little bit and put some decent play together ourselves.
" So, overall a decent run-out for us tonight, we knew it would be and we knew it would be tough for the full 90 but we have been able to give everybody a moment so it is about pushing for the 14th of August.
" I think with Lee Andrews having gone down in the area before the goal and Dave Hewson tying his shoelaces there was a couple of minutes mix up. It always happens on corners, they always say don't make a change on a corner but we had no choice.
" Lee has twisted his ankle so we had to do that and that probably just switched everybody off, you don't want to lose a goal like that so late on but it happens sometimes. It was not about the result tonight, it was about the performance and overall it was very good, very encouraging. "
" Most of the boxes were ticked, fitness-wise most of the lads looked reasonably fit and the tests we have done showed that they are up to a decent standard that way. The closing down was good, I thought that Shaun Vipond and Phil McLuckie in the first-half were excellent in midfield and pressurised them a lot.
" Jonny Wright and Matty Tymon did well in the first-half with their hold-up play and linking up. Overall in the first-half I was very encouraged, in the second-half when you make changes it is going to be hard to get fluency. Everybody is pushing for the 14th and the starting eleven though.
" We should always give Aaran Taylor a lot of credit in goal for the last two years, because he has been sitting here waiting for his chance. Hopefully this season he will grasp it with both hands, it was a terrific save from Gary Madine in the first-half though, it really was a good one. As you have seen tonight as well, his kicking and distribution is excellent.
" Tony Hopper is a great bloke, first and foremost what a terrific fellow, nicest guy you could want to meet. That is why the lads wanted to get together for him after the game there and just let him come down that tunnel of appreciation. He was taken aback by that to be honest and that is the type of guy he is.
" Tonight he was closing down and running around like he was 18 so we will miss that. That was a massive part of our game and last year and especially the last ten games, he drove us on. Unfortunately Tony is now finished and we have got to move on from Tony, it is not a nice way to put it like that but I have got to find someone to replace him and someone has got to come and replace him. "
" I think Shaun has realised what it takes in this league now. When he first came he wanted a little bit too much time on the ball, which comes from playing a lot of reserve team football unfortunately. But the lad has learned, and I think especially in the last ten games of the season he was terrific, his work-rate was fantastic and I don't always think he gets the plaudit he deserves.
" But Shaun is in there for a reason, he is a good footballer, a talented footballer, he doesn't always do himself justice with his distribution because it is a hell of a lot better than he shows. But as he matures that will hopefully come into his game.
" I spoke to Paul Murray at the weekend, he went away on Sunday with Hartlepool because they have got a couple of games in Holland. Then when he comes back at the weekend he will hopefully know from then what will happen. My advice to him was to try to get another year out of his legs if he could stay in the professional game as long as he can.
" He is adamant that he wants to do a little bit of coaching as well with his time. So, if that doesn't materialise there then he said to me that he will consider what I can put together for him. So, I am still going to work on that over the next week and see where we can go with the chairman (Humphrey Dobie) and so forth, I think the thought might have frightened the chairman a little bit.
" But it wasn't one for the press, and it was something that I had been talking to Paul about for a couple of months. I knew that he wanted to go into coaching and he has been trying to get into clubs this summer that haven't quite materialised. So, a player-coach is a role he wants to take up this year, so we will see how it goes at Hartlepool and then take it from there. "