Secondly, a huge thank you to our supporters who made it feel like a home game. Your backing was outstanding. I wanted a positive result for you more than anyone, and I’m genuinely gutted we couldn’t deliver it.

I’m not going to do the usual would-have, should-have, could-have report. I’ll stick to the facts as I see them. The game itself was quite straightforward. We played two excellent balls through for Chay (Chay Tilt) and Dre (Andre Landell), and they finished them as they do. However, if life isn’t hard enough, the best two balls we played in the first half ended up sending their two best players clean through on goal. That level of decision-making was unacceptably poor and ultimately cost us the game.

At half-time I was still confident we would win. I’d seen enough to know that once we stopped feeling sorry for ourselves and getting caught up in utter nonsense, we had more than enough to take control. When Eddie went through to make it 3-2, that should have been game over - but unfortunately he missed. Khalsa’s winner came from a penalty which, by our own admission, was correctly awarded. It was conceded by the best player on the pitch. What needs to be understood is that Jake Collins was making a tackle in his own box, fighting for the team. He was devastated, but he was sensational all day and has nothing but my admiration and full support.

I’m acutely aware that we’re still leaving points on the pitch, and that’s incredibly frustrating. But I’m also acutely aware - as are those watching - of what we’re doing very, very well. For a squad containing eleven under-21s, they are so close. I’m working hard on bringing in a couple of new recruits to help the group.

There were some excellent individual performances. Alex was superb. Billy and Jake Collins were outstanding. Young Paul terrorised their defence all day. Callum was fantastic in the second half, although his first-half performance was unacceptably passive and needs eradicating, PDQ. Cookie is beginning to lead the line properly, and there were several other very positive displays.

A brief note on the officials - it was a tough day for them, and I don’t believe it affected the result, so there’s no bitterness from me. However, it did feel like they may have been a little early in their careers for a game of this magnitude, which is disappointing.

We now prepare for another big game at home against Shifnal on New Year’s Day.

Have a lovely Christmas.

Dean