Stags must cut out naive defending (From Daily Echo)

Stags must cut out naive defending

4:22pm Monday 27th August 2012 in Sport

WIN-LESS AFC Totton could be in for a tough afternoon at league leaders Hemel Hempstead today unless they address the defensive naivety that cost them a 4-2 home defeat by Stourbridge on Saturday.

The Stags twice took a first- half lead through Richard Gillespie and James Coutts, but were hit by a double blow just before the interval and another goal midway through the second half as the Glassboys made off with the Evo-Stik Premier points.

“We started brightly enough, but then a free kick’s gone right through our wall to make it 2-2 and then we’ve conceded another free kick on the stroke of half-time and their big centre-half has looped a header against the bar and it’s been followed up from eight yards,” said dejected Stags boss Steve Riley.

“We didn’t deserve to go in 3- 2 down, but conceding right on half-time was a killer. There were lots of positives for us going forward, but we’re giving needless fouls away and we don’t concentrate enough from dead ball situations. At this level, you get punished.”