Deflated player/boss Matt Cawthorn admitted that an abject second-half performance was to blame for Long Sutton Athletic exiting the PFA Challenge Cup on Saturday.
The Magpies were shot down 3-1 at home to Oakham United Reserves.
Jaede Timms put the visitors ahead on 20 minutes, only for Billy Radeloff to level 15 minutes later with a real cracker.
However, William Lee (62) put the visitors back ahead before Connor Hudson (85) sealed their passage.
Oakham did have Timms sent off in the second half, but Cawthorn admitted that his side collapsed after a promising first period.
The injured striker said: “It was such a frustrating game against a reasonably good Oakham team, who did include three first team members. But the problem wasn’t that, so much.
“Being in the cup has taken some pressure off the lads – and I really wanted to win this game.
“In the first half we started to try and play some decent football on a very boggy pitch, and we did look like causing a few problems.
“Oakham were prepared to sit deep and play on the counter attack. We fell behind to a sloppy goal from a corner coming through a crowd of players, with it being turned in at the far post.
“Billy Radeloff, who was controlling the midfield, pulled us level from a free kick which was finished superbly.
“But I think half-time came at the wrong time for us because, in the second half, we just collapsed – giving away possession cheaply. We got deeper and deeper and fell behind to a defensive mix-up.
“That soon turned into 3-1, which gave us a little kick to push on, but it was a case of too little, too late.
“The players were rightly unhappy after the final whistle, because we felt we had enough to win the game.
“Performance-wise, the first half was OK, but the second half was nowhere near good enough from a lot of the squad.
“As manager I need to try and put this behind us and try to pick the lads up so we can move on.”
Sutton return to PDFL Division One action this Saturday as they host mid-table rivals Glinton and Northborough (2pm).
Sutton: Taylor, Ramm, Nicholson, Melton, Bennett, M Oliver, Narducci, Radeloff, B Oliver, Moses, Ward. Subs used: Brandon, Garner, Rumsey, Gedney. Not used: Cawthorn.
