Haughmond boss Matt Burton sends out word of warning to his side
Matt Burton sent a word of warning to his Haughmond squad after a dismal defeat at Lye Town made it six games without a win.
Haughmond remain 17th in the Midland League Premier Division after the 2-0 reversal in the Black Country, but just five points separate them and bottom side Shawbury United.
Disappointed boss Burton, who was without a number of his first-team squad due to this fixture being rearranged from an initial Boxing Day clash, described the first 45 minutes as the worst his side have played this season.
Jack Till netted after half an hour to give the hosts a lead and Lye survived half an hour with 10 men after James Spray's red card before adding a second through Jacob Rammell deep into added time.
Burton, who did not use the lack of availability as an excuse, said: "There were no positives. I think the first-half was as bad as we've played all season.
"I don't very often lose my temper but I did at half-time because we were nowhere near.
"The second-half was a slight improvement but the quality wasn't good enough. It was a bad day at the office.
"We've got to be better than that. if we don't get better than that then it'll be a long, long season for us.
"I'm sure we'll be fine but we can't keep saying that. We've got to make sure we get points on the point and get them on quick."
Burton had to utilise his squad with a number of players unavailable and claimed some replacements had done little to boost their take their chance.
He added: "It's about giving lads opportunities and those stepping up to the plate who haven't played and grabbing that chance.
"Unfortunately, I think Dan Williams played well but the rest of them haven't played well today.
"That's not saying they're not good enough, because they are. But they weren't good enough today."
Lye were playing under the sole charge of Craig Harris for the first time. The home side were eight without a victory going into the Sports Ground clash.
Burton’s Haughmond had lost a thrilling Premier Division clash 4-3 at Westfield’s last week. Their list of absentees included top goalscorer Steve Hole.
The visitors’ Scott Ryan drew the first save of the afternoon, with Charlie Price keeping him out low at the near post.
Haughmond’s powerful midfielder Carl Rogers sent a fantastic free-kick crashing off Price’s crossbar.
They turned the screw with Ryan’s goalbound effort deflected wide before left-back Matt Fletcher also drilled off-target.
But Lye upped the ante around the half hour mark and were rewarded for some powerful play in midfield. Scott Gennard intercepted a loose pass and sent the pacy Till away and he made little work of calmly side-footing beyond Sam Jones.
Haughmond showed more sign of life after the break as Ryan was unable to divert a Henry Jacques cross on target.
And Ryan blazed over their clearest opening. Sent clean through on goal, he smashed over the oncoming Price and over.
Till continued to threaten the Haughmond backline, with his pace bringing plenty of joy, but Jones impressed to keep the score down on more than one occasion.
Ex-Wolves man Spray then left a foot in a challenge with Matt Owen in front of the visiting bench. Following a series of handbags, referee Niall Smith sent Spray to the changing rooms.
Rogers threatened an equaliser as he drilled a low strike a foot wide from outside the box with 13 minutes to play before Owen was denied from distance.
But sub Rammell had the final say as he curled a superb second beyond Jones and into the far corner as Lye sealed a fine afternoon in style.
