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Town's start their post Paul Simpson era with a 3-2 defeat at home to Morecambe.

It was a poor start for Town who were 2-0 down within 15 minutes but the side showed great character to him back with goals from Benjamin Van Den Broek and Tom Bradshaw.

Dave Artell grabbed a third goal to give Morecambe the advantage but Town had a great chance to level things at the death with a Kevin McIntyre penalty, but it agonisingly came back off the bar.

After the game First Team Coach Stuart Delaney spoke to the press and was asked for his thoughts on the game:"I asked for the players to be professional, to give their all today, to be the best they can be and give it a good go.

"There were some nerves early on but over the game we created so many chances that we could have won two or three games."

It was a bad start for Town with Morecambe grabbing the early advantage with two goals.A quick change to the line-up by Stuart Delaney saw Tom Bradshaw introduced and this gave the side a boost: "Tom gives you that little bit of spark as he's a willing runner, he works hard and does some intelligent runs.

"The first ball he played through to set-up Benjamin was a great little ball and Benjamin has tucked it away nicely.Then to pop up and get a goal topped that but that is what Tom is capable of."

In the end it was Morecambe's set pieces that were the undoing of Town with Dave Artell getting two headers from free-kicks: "It is disappointing because you prepare the players and go through set pieces on a Friday with who is picking up who.

"The aim is to get to the ball first and pick up who is trying to get their first for them."

As the game neared the final whistle Tom Bradshaw was once again fouled in the box but this time the penalty was given.Kevin McIntyre stepped up but the ball smashed against the underside of the bar and agonisingly came back out: "In training he puts them away everyday and he never misses so you would put your mortgage on him scoring.

"Macca always gives you 100% in every single game and he is so disappointed that the goal didn't go in.

"He always tries hard and on any other day that would have ended up in the back of the net."

Stuart has been with the club for a number of years on the coaching side but this was his first time in charge of the first team.He was asked how he enjoyed the step up and he revealed it is something that he will learn from: "It is a tough job and some people think it's an easy one to do but you are there to make decisions and stand by them.

"I'll probably take fault for starting the game with Jake Simpson and probably asking too much from him.He's only a young kid and has played a lot of games recently and that might have been a game too much, that's about experience and if I do get to take the team on Saturday then I will know to look at players and when to rest them.

"Maybe I asked too much of Jake to go in there today but for the last couple of months his form has fantastic so deserved to be there on merit."

The side saw both loanees Dave Button and Jamie Cureton not in the starting eleven as Stuart wanted to give a couple of Town players their chance: "It was a difficult decision to come in on your first day and make the decision about Dave Button as he has been fantastic since he joined us, and been a credit to himself and to his club.

"The decision we took was that for the final two games we would get our goalkeeper Chris Neal back in there to get the experience to make sure that he hits the ground running next season.

"I had a chat with Dave Button on Friday to explain my situation and he took it ever so well, he agreed to go on the bench as he is a good pro and I'd like to express my thanks to him.

"I had a word wit Jamie and I want respect him as he's a true pro but I didn't want to put him on the bench and then put younger players ahead of him as I think that's a bit disrespectful to him,.

"I don't want to block tom Bradshaw's progression and as he's already played three games in the week so it was unfair for him to go and play from the start. "