Bourne Town lose to Kimberley Miners Welfare in the United Counties League

Bourne Town suffered a third successive defeat in the United Counties League Premier Division North after a surprise home loss to Kimberley Miners Welfare on Saturday.

The second-placed Wakes went down to a 1-0 reversal against their Nottinghamshire visitors who had started the day at the foot of the league table.

The away win moved a much improved Stags side out of the bottom two but left Bourne trailing leaders Eastwood by six points with all of the chasing pack also making up ground on Michael Goode's side who had been beaten by Lincoln United and Heanor in their previous league outings.

The run of defeats left the Wakes boss admitting that his side hadn't reached their usual standards on a heavy pitch at the Abbey Lawn.

Goode said: "The conditions made it a 50-50 game but we haven't been good enough in the last three league matches in every area.

"We haven't controlled the midfield, we've given away possession in defensive areas which we've been punished for and we haven't had enough desire in the final third to get into the six-yard box where it hurts.

"In these sorts of conditions, it doesn't matter if you're at top or down the bottom but you have to assert your authority on the game."

The Wakes were again without injured top scorer Zac Allen and, like any side without their 31-goal marksman, are sorely missing their talisman.

There was again plenty of effort and endeavour but Bourne were lacking that extra guile to defeat a Kimberley side whose upturn in fortunes had seen them beat Hucknall, Melton and Belper United in recent weeks.

Matthew Moffatt fired an early shot wide for the visitors while Bourne's Shaun Archer saw a deflected effort saved by visiting goalkeeper Ben Allsop.

Robbie Ellis put a header wide for the hosts while Aaron Coyle was off target with a shot at the other end.

The visitors then came close to breaking the deadlock but Coyle saw his goalbound effort superbly cleared off the line by Henry Dunn.

Zak Munton was then denied by a goalline clearance at the other end from his curling shot before Zak Sandhu struck the home goal frame with a cross-shot.

Home goalkeeper Dan Swan saved well at point blank range to deny Finn Ryder with the Bourne custodian also doing his utmost to prevent Kimberley from taking a 41st lead.

Swan made fine stops to deny both Ryder and Coyle but Kimberley were first to the rebound each time and Kamani Wilson eventually scrambled home the opening goal.

Will Bird saw a looping header cleared off the line as Bourne went into the half-time break a goal adrift.

Ryder rifled an early effort into the side-netting for the visitors before both Munton and Tom Siddons just failed to connect with inviting crosses from Bird and Brad Gothard.

Munton had a low drive scrambled off the line before the Bourne attacker was denied again by a vital block at the back post.

Swan was forced to tip a Moffatt shot to safety before producing a fantastic fingertip save to turn Coyle's low strike onto the post as the game entered the final 10 minutes.

A fine last-ditch tackle from Shea Thompson denied Dunn a clear run on goal while Allsop was equal to a shot from new signing Alvin Magagada after the former Newport Pagnell and Daventry player came on as a second half substitute.

Bourne's last chance fell to Ellis after he created space in the box but Allsop was down smartly to save and send the Wakes to defeat.

Boss Goode added: "The first half was even but they had the better chances. We didn't manage the game just before half-time because going in at 0-0 would have given ourselves a chance.

"It allowed Kimberley to sit behind the ball in the second half and they're a strong, physical side who work hard and they've got pace up top.

"We're getting punished for the mistakes we're making at the moment and sides are just not giving us anything.

"We've got to look at each other both individually and collectively because we have to do better as we've got ourselves into a position where everybody is talking about things that are way in the future.

"We've got to think more about the here and now and not worry about past unbeaten runs. All that matters is that game on that particular day."

Bourne are back in action on Tuesday night when they host Skegness Town.