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By Joe Harbert
Ashford United captain Sam Mott insists ‘silly decisions’ are continuing to cost the team after their 3-2 injury-time defeat to Sevenoaks on Tuesday.
The Nuts & Bolts dropped to 11th in Isthmian South East after the loss at Homelands - their third in six league games and fifth in all competitions from just nine matches.
The result leaves them already ten points adrift of last season’s de-facto champions Hastings at the summit of the division.
Mott said: “You can’t start poorly and concede two goals after five minutes and then expect everything to go your way, because it’s always going to be an uphill task.
“We did react well and dominate large parts, if not all of the game, but then we gave away a free-kick that allowed them to have pretty much the last kick of the night and then a smash-and-grab victory.
“It was still a great delivery into the box and that meant all someone had to do was get their head on it.
“But we’ve just given them another opportunity to score from a set-piece, which is what they were looking for, and that’s why we’ve just played into their hands over the course of the night.
“It’s just silly decisions at silly times at the moment that are costing us, so we need a bit more consistency because the ideas are there.
“They’re obviously a completely different team to Whyteleafe for example last week, though - they pass the ball non-stop, whereas Sevenoaks like to kick it long and win as many free-kicks as possible and that’s what they’re good at and stick to.
“But even so, I can’t put my finger on why things aren’t exactly clicking right now, because I feel comfortable with the defence and midfield in front of me.”
The 32-year-old believes the squad’s rocky start can no longer be attributed to the fact they need more time to gel.
However, Mott admits the calibre of the Homelands outfit is there in abundance, leaving him optimistic of getting back to winning ways.
“I know it’s still a relatively new side and it takes time to work right, but we’re at the end of October now and we’ve all been together pretty much since August, and that’s why we should be doing better,” he added.
“So while it’s been a slow start, we’re only six games in and we will bounce back because we have enough quality and confidence in ourselves to be up there at the end of the season.
“Further forward we’re playing some really good football and are on top in most games, so I have no doubt about where we’ll finish because I won’t accept anything less.”
