Lordswood manager Richard Dimmock struggled to come to terms with an opening-day defeat.

A positive performance at highly-fancied Erith & Belvedere accounted for nothing as his team were beaten 1-0 as the Southern Counties East Premier Division season got under way last weekend.

The game was settled with five minutes to go, Rory Ward netting the winner for the Deres.

“It’s so frustrating and we were much the better side,” said the Lords boss.

“It was down to one mistake, we tried to step up and played the offside and they got in. It was onside.

“It was a game of few chances, you could see both sides were pretty nervous and didn’t want to make any mistakes. First half I thought we were phenomenal, even a few of their committee members were saying to ours ‘wow, you lot are a massive difference compared to last season’.

“I was gutted. We had one or two chances first half, then in the second, first 10 minutes we came out like we finished the first, one or two half- chances.

“A 0-0 draw would have been a fair result but they had that lucky break right at the end of the game to snatch all three points. [There’s] loads of positives to take at least. The players have taken on board what has been said and it is only going to get better.”

Up next for Dimmock’s side is a trip to Harefield United in the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup. They play in Uxbridge and compete in the Combined Counties Football League Premier Division North.

Before the weekend Dimmock added Bode Olajide to his squad, playing him in central defence. The returning player can also play in midfield.

Dimmock was still hoping to add a striker, which could be done in time for the FA Cup match, while a winger is also on the wishlist.