Woods blast sparks Town
Woods also shrugged off Cheltenham's stunning last-gasp victory at Burton Albion and insisted the Mariners should concentrate on finding enough points from their own games to stay up.
Town's survival hopes suffered a huge blow on Saturday when, after battling from a goal down to draw 1-1 against the Shrimps at Christie Park, they learned that Mark Yates' men had scored six second-half goals to beat the Brewers 6-5.
Woods' men are now six points adrift of safety and nearest rivals Cheltenham, who have a game in hand, and seven away from Torquay, who are unbeaten in six league games.
The Town boss admitted to questioning his players' loyalty at half-time, when he read them the riot act.
He said: "The Cheltenham result was disappointing, but I can't do anything about that.
"The plus side is the players reacted to what was said at half-time.
"I don't know why we were flat and why we started like that. All the preparation was good and they'd been bright all week again.
"I gave my goalkeeper and two centre-halves a lot of praise. It's sad to say it, but we were happy to go into the break 1-0 down because it could have been three or four.
"We have to be a lot stronger mentally and use our brains more.
"You can't afford to be rolling balls around at the back on a pitch that doesn't allow you to do it and we had to get the ball forward quicker.
"What you'd like the players to do is to solve those problems themselves while they're playing.
"The players have spirit. I'm sure anyone that goes to the games and watches them play would know they're doing their all to help the club stay up.
"I've never questioned that – although I did at half-time, not their desire, but their commitment and whether with 11 games to go they really were giving it everything.
"But their reaction was pleasing. We had a few choice words at half-time and had to change the personnel to offer more of a threat.
"Second half, the tempo was better, our work-rate off the ball was better and we were brighter with it – we looked like we could score goals.
"But that's how we should play for 90 minutes, not just 45."
Town do have a relatively good run-in at the end of the season but fans will no doubt be praying for their relegation rivals not to pick up more points while the Mariners do battle against the top two sides in League Two – Rochdale and Bournemouth – in their next two matches.
At least experienced captain Lee Peacock, along with a host of injured Mariners, should be back in contention for Saturday's home clash against the Cherries.
Woods said: "I would think they'll all be back from injury for next Saturday.
"Lee got a very bad dead leg. Sometimes you can run it off but on that pitch it was just getting worse and worse.
"It was a blow to lose your captain and big man in the middle of the park, but full credit to Mark Hudson – he did very well.
"Dean Sinclair, Oliver Lancashire and Peter Sweeney should be okay.
"Paris Cowan-Hall should also be coming back this week and Jamie Devitt could be back training at the end of the week.
"So we should definitely have three or four back in contention."
Boss Neil Woods at Christie Park with his number two, Chris Casper
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