SHRIVENHAM boss Michael McNally was unhappy with his side’s ‘abysmal’ second-half performance as they let a lead slip before going down 3-2 away at Ardley United.

Adam Richmond gave the home side an early lead, but as Shrivvy came into the game Bradley Gill levelled things up before Scott Scanlon coolly slotted home a penalty to give the visitors a 2-1 half time lead.

But things went rapidly down hill from there, and McNally was not happy with his side’s lacklustre display as Scott Bridges and Steve Howkins struck to condemn them to their second successive defeat.

“We didn’t really start the game very well at all to be honest, but I was really pleased with the way we came back into the game and when we got ahead we could easily have gone in at half time 3-1 up.

“But we didn’t, and eventually it cost us.

“We had a very positive team talk and we made clear how we wanted to go about things in the second half, but the players then went out there and did the opposite.

“It really was abysmal, and there was no effort and no commitment, which is the real disappointment.

“It is a shame really because they have shown those qualities all season so far, and I don’t really know what happened to us.”

McNally and his players talked through the performance after the game, and the Shrivvy boss is confident his side can quickly improve.

“We had a good long chat after the game, and there were a few home truths to be honest,” he said.

“This was not the first time we have conceded a lead, but I am confident it will not happen again.

“Maybe we were guilty of a bit of complacency, which I suppose means a lack of experience, and we need to address that.

“The players need to realise it is not always about playing pretty football, and that you have to grind out results sometimes and put your head in where it hurts if you are going to come away with anything.

“We are always capable of scoring goals, and if we can carry on doing that and get a bit tighter at the back we will be fine I am sure.”