BOSS Paul Holleran slammed sloppy defending as Leamington handed Ashton United their first home victory of the National North season at the weekend.
Brakes took the lead after just 30 seconds, with Ahmed Obeng glancing home his first goal of the season from Kieran Dunbar’s dangerous cross.
Ashton levelled in the 18th minute when Bradley Jackson thumped a first-time strike into the roof of the net from the edge of the area after Leamington’s defence failed to clear Matthew Regan’s cross.
With the game heading for a 1-1 draw, Ashton snatched all three points in added time when Liam Martin bundled the ball home from close range when a seemingly harmless cross was allowed to reach him through a sea of bodies in the penalty area.
Brakes followed their league defeat with a 5-3 penalty shoot-out victory over Sutton Coldfield Town in the Birmingham Senior Cup on Tuesday night after the two sides were locked at 1-1.
Goals in the final few minutes against Hereford and Spennymoor (twice) have seen Brakes lose games they should have taken a point from, while a late goal for Guiseley turned a potential three points into one.
Also, two late goals for Bradford Park Avenue made a three-goal cushion briefly look very precarious.
It is certainly becoming a big headache for the manager and he will be growing tired of reinforcing the point concentration needs to be maintained right until the final whistle if his side are to fulfil their potential this season.
“To end up with nothing on Saturday – it’s hard to put into words,” said Holleran.
“We struggled with the conditions but we needed a bit more quality at times.
“You then get to a point where you’re thinking, it’s a tricky away trip, let’s just take the point and get back on the bus.
“However, to get to the 92nd minute again (and concede). We were sloppy.
“It’s not a good cross and it’s gone through so many people. It’s just difficult to understand how we haven’t dealt with it.
“At that stage of the game it’s just one clearance and that’s it.
“To say we were disappointed it an understatement. It’s a tough one to take.”
Leamington return to league action on Saturday, October 13 when they play host to Curzon Ashton.
