Gordon Bartlett admitted this week his Wealdstone side have been underachievers so far this season in the only stat that matters - results.
Stones bowed out of the FA Trophy at Maidstone on Tuesday night, beaten by a 92nd minute goal, this after throwing away a 2-0 lead in the first tie at The Vale on Saturday, so missing out on a home draw with Conference South promotion chasers Eastleigh in the next round.
Both games followed a familiar pattern with Stones the dominant force on both occasions only to ultimately come up short.
Bartlett insists with the exception of the FA Cup debacle at AFC Hornchurch his team have outplayed every other opponent so far in the campaign, but he concedes just 12 wins in the 21 games played tells its own story.
He said: “In the changing room we’ve said for the quality of player and the experience we have got we’re not winning sufficient games for the amount of possession and superiority we have had in most of them.
“There has been only one stage this season where the opposition have been better than us and that was the FA Cup tie at Hornchurch.
“I don’t know how many games that is, but in every other one without question we have been the better side - so we haven’t won enough games.
“However, I want to look on the positive side and if we have been the better side in say 20 of 21 games then that is not a bad foundation for the rest of the season is it? We are not a million miles away.”
Tuesday’s stoppage-time exit continued a worrying trend for Bartlett and his staff.
Saturday’s first game had seen Maidstone snatch an 88th minute leveller, while vital league points against both Hornchurch and Lewes have also been lost to very late goals.
The Stones boss dismissed suggestion the age of some of his players meant they were tiring in the crucial final stages of games, suggesting the failure to kill sides off earlier in the piece was the heart of the problem.
He added: “I don’t think we are physically light at the end of games. We got to be more clinical and show a more ruthless streak and yes we want to pass the ball, but sometimes we pass it a little bit too much.
“Plus we have given away slack goals on too many occasions.”
Neighbours Hendon do advance in the Trophy to a home tie with Oxford City after their 10-men overcame Bideford on Sunday.
The Greens did it the hard way, playing with 10 men from the eighth minute when Casey McLaren was sent off.
The sides were evened up 20 minutes from time when Bideford’s Rob Farkins saw red before David Diedhiou snatched victory with a late header.
The City game will be on Sunday, November 17, meaning the league match with Wealdstone scheduled for the following evening will now be re-arranged.
