Daisy Hill maintained their unbeaten league record in the North West Counties League First Division North but had to settle for a point from a 1-1 draw at Ashville on Tuesday evening.
It turned out to be a frustrating night on the Wirral for Daisy, as they enjoyed plenty of possession but struggled to break down a well-organised home side who played for over an hour with ten men after Joseph Levey was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Hugo Nowacki.
Soon after the incident, Ashville took the lead with a fine solo goal from Matthew Williams, and although Will Shawcross levelled the scores from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time, Daisy failed to capitalise further on their one-man advantage, leaving manager Nicky Hunt disappointed with the overall performance.
"It's a tough one to take because regardless of them going down to 10 men, I just don't think we were at the races today for whatever reason," said Hunt.
"We created chances, but we were huffing and puffing, and a draw was probably a fair result.
"Even when they went down to 10 men, they still created chances, and obviously when a team goes down to 10 men, that's not what you want.
"As soon as they go down to 10 men, we've got to be clever enough to get in attacking areas and then do something.
"And it was just like we were like half a yard away, a yard away all game.
"They grafted, and they probably deserved a point in the end, the way they grafted and the chances they created.
"They're well drilled, they're well organised, and they've got game management and you've got to rise above that and play our game.
"We didn't do that enough times today, and that's the most disappointing thing.
"But it's just having an end product and a finish at the end of it.
"We had big chances here and there, clearances off the line, clearances away, but I don't know what it was, something in the air or what, it just felt a little bit flat tonight.
"The lads accepted that and they were the first ones to say it, but they've got to change it.
"I can make changes on the sideline, I can give them advice, but ultimately it's up to them."
