Home Defeat sums up Blues’ season

Rustington trailed 1-0 to Mile Oak at half-time but were a lot brighter in the second half and were awarded a penalty with 15 minutes to go.

However, Chris Darwin’s spot-kick was saved and Blues’ winger then suffered an injury which is likely to keep him out for the rest of the season. Shortly afterwards, Mile Oak went 2-0 up when Blues defender Chris Green deflected a cross into his own goal and Morten said: “It was a very harsh lesson. We were terrible in the first half, but we spoke about it at half-time, and addressed the problem.

“We were a lot better in the second half, not great, but better – we pressed all over the pitch, we worked hard as a team and deserved our chance to equalise.

“To miss the penalty, then lose a player to injury for the season, then concede an own goal in the space of five minutes was demoralising. It summed up how this season has gone for us. We are getting punished for every mistake we make and it hurts.

“The lads and I won’t give up, though, and we will continue to work hard and stick together. If we can cut out the mistakes, we will give ourselves a better chance. As always, we move on from this, learn again from the game and look to put it right this Saturday.”

Mile Oak started the game the quicker of the two sides and Blues keeper Charlie Gammons made one save with his feet before the visitors took the lead on 10 minutes. Ryan Pretlove crossed from the left and Paul Eaton gave Oak the lead.

Blues upped the tempo but lacked any quality as a few long-range efforts failed to trouble Oak keeper Aaron Stenning. Rustington started the second half brightly and Chris Kirkham volleyed a Darwin cross just over, before a header from Kirkham shaved a post.

Darwin also fired over, before Blues were awarded a penalty when Steve Kirkham was brought down by Nathan Loughlin. Stenning denied Darwin from the spot and Chris Kirkham’s rebound then flew the wrong side of the post.

Darwin was then injured as he committed a foul and Mile Oak went 2-0 ahead with four minutes left when Green turned a cross into his own net. A defensive mix-up between Gammons and Jack Corbett then allowed Oak to add a third with two minutes left through Tony Burnett.

Blues host Westfield on Saturday (2pm).