AFC Totton’s Steve Riley admitted “key mistakes” gifted Shortwood a 2-0 win at the Testwood Stadium.

But the manager insisted his Stags are still very much up for the challenge that lies in wait in the Southern League South & West Division One.

Riley’s side lost their first home league match since early November against the Gloucestershire outfit, who caught them twice against the run of play through Marley Thomas and then towering striker Lewis Sommers.

It was a frustrating afternoon for the Stags in a game which could prove important in the chase for play-off spots, with the hosts failing to find any kind of rhythm on a sticky pitch.

Totton, now six points off the play-off berths, created their best chance late on when Billy Lowes’s shot was blocked on the line by Nick Hancock.

But Riley insists that his side – which was missing experienced pair Mike Gosney (back spasms) and the unavailable Nathaniel Sherborne – are still good enough to make a solid finish.

“We gifted it to them,” he said. “When we played up there we played really well but made two errors in the second half and they won 2-0.

“It was the same today.

“We need to focus on the next five, which are the important ones now.”

Totton face each of the top four in the coming weeks, starting at second-placed Taunton next Saturday.

“We’re looking forward to those challenges and it will show us how far we’ll have come as a team.

“This season is all about consolidating.

“After the start to 2015 (when they won five in a row), people were thinking we could get into the play-offs.

“You want to do that, win every game and try to get promoted.

“It’s going to be interesting over the next few weeks and we’ll see where we are in March. If we’re up there that’s brilliant, we’ll fight all the way to April.

“We’re up for a challenge.”

Totton had bright spells but struggled to create clear-cut chances for much for the game.

Stuart Mott had a header saved after the influential Liam Gilbert swept in a free-kick to the back-post, and debutant Jack Hoey unleashed a drive from the outside of the box that went just wide.

“It’s disappointing the manner in which we conceded,” said Riley.

“We just couldn’t break them down.

“Two key mistakes we made as a group of players cost us at least a point.

“I just said to the boys ‘lift your heads up and move on to the next one’.”

Riley was impressed with his first look at Hoey, a new signing from league neighbours Bashley.

“Jack had a solid performance, it’s always difficult coming in like he did,” he said. “He trained once with us this week.

“We missed Sherborne and Gosney – our two most experienced players.

“We had to change the system purely because they weren’t available.

“Jack came in and did well. He contributed, he’s a clever player.”