Petersfield Town manager Connor Hoare was unable to hide his disappointment after the Rams crashed to a comprehensive 4-0 defeat at Brockenhurst in the Wessex League Premier Division.
An even first half was shaded by the hosts, who took the lead after 30 minutes. Charlie Merritt tried to see the ball out but had his pocket picked, and the ball was played across for Toby Bailey to score from close range.
The second half was a tale of woe for the visitors, starting three minutes into the half when Freddie Bullard doubled the Badgers’ lead.
A low pass into the area was diverted by the outstretched leg of Cam Smith to Bullard, who put the ball in the empty net.
The third arrived after 56 minutes. Oli Davies’ back pass was short and Harry Bunce tapped past Rams keeper Ellis Grant.
Leon Carbayo-Borges made it four on 86 minutes. Rian Drake played the ball inside for Carbayo-Borges, who slotted into the bottom corner.
“It was really disappointing,” said Hoare.
“Second half was not the team we’ve shown we can be or are at any point in the season so it was a really disappointing display.
“It was tough to take – there were hardly any positives from it in the second half at all. It was one of those ones where everything seemed to go wrong and you have to bounce back from that.
“The performance in the first half out of possession was excellent. I thought we did really well – we pressed really well.
“We won the ball back so many times – especially in their half and in and around their box – but nothing ever came of it so we were winning the ball but weren’t getting any shots away, which was disappointing.
“The second half was not a side I would say has been coached by me or Callum Glen or anyone at the club in the past six months, which was disappointing.”
Next up for Petersfield is a home game against Baffins Milton Rovers in the Wessex League Premier Division today (Saturday). The match kicks-off at 3pm.
“Baffins are fighting for the play-offs and have got something to play for, which is going to be really tough,” said Hoare.
“I want us to stop giving goals away. I don’t feel like teams beat us, I feel we beat ourselves.
“We’re playing football that really matters and we’ve got fans travelling who want to see us do well and want to see us win.
“I want to see maximum intensity and maximum effort out of possession to do the right thing all the time, not just in moments.”