Uphill Castle manager Anthony Askins said his side “switched off” for Louis Coppard’s two goals which cost them three points in their 2-0 defeat against Stockwood Wanderers in their last Uhlsport Somerset County League Premier game of 2023 this afternoon (Saturday).

Coppard slotted home his first in first half stoppage time when he picked up Ryan Chapple’s long pass over the top to slot home past Ryan Scott before the forward got his second moments later when he slid home at the back post to meet Jack Moore’s cross.

And Askins said it was a “hugely frustrating” afternoon for his side.

“They had a lot more of the game than us and Ryan (Scott) in goals had to make a lot of saves today,” he said.

“But we have found a way to stay in the game I thought for the first half, where we really weren't at the races

“Then we probably had about 10 or 15 minutes spell when we were getting right back into the game, we made some chances and this has been our problem all season. 

“We've just switched off twice at the end of the first half there, and ultimately the end of the game it's what's cost us the three points.”

Askins admitted his side struggle to come to terms when something goes against them.

“We we seem to have a problem as a team clearing our head after something goes against us,” he added.

“Its something we've picked up on quite a bit this season. We tend to concede goals in blocks of two or three, but very, very quick time and I think we just we can't clear our head. 

“Maybe, the first goal shook us and and we certainly didn't get ourselves together. We defended terribly for the second goal, not much better for the first, but yeah, certainly for the second. If you are going defend like that in this division you are going to get punished and we did.”

But despite defeat Askins said his side were better in the second half.

Ethan Reed hit the post with a free-kick from 25-yards-out while Jack Askins saw his downward header superbly saved by Matt Lewis and after the ball was recycled to Harry Pegler he unleashed a fantastic long-range strike against the crossbar.

And Askins said how they react is down to two options.

“You got two choices, you could carry on feeling sorry for yourself going into the next game or you can pick yourself up and get on with it,” he said.

“I thought second-half today was probably our best performance for a long time. We did leave ourselves a little bit exposed towards the end at the back, but that was that was trying to chase the game down, trying to get back into the game.

“We ask the players to go out, puff the chest out a bit, be brave in that second-half and we said to them afterwards in the changing rooms it was everything we could have asked for really in terms of effort, commitment. 

“A great save by their keeper from Jack's header, (Reed’s) unlucky there with the free-kick off the post.

“Maybe at times a little bit of quality that we're lacking but certainly for effort and and endeavour today I think we couldn’t have asked a lot more in that second-half.”