Blackstones are beaten by Radford in the United Counties League Division One
Manager Lloyd Burton wants his Blackstones side to build on the positives from an encouraging performance against high-flying Radford on Saturday.
Stones went down to a 2-1 home defeat against their table-topping visitors in the United Counties League Division One clash at the Torney Limited Stadium.
The Pheasants netted a late winner to complete the double over Stones who produced a vastly-improved performance from the previous week's 4-1 reversal at Aylestone Park.
Boss Burton said: "I thought we were 110 per cent better than the week before.
"We were a yard off everything at Aylestone after a break and I take responsibility for that because we changed the formation and it clearly didn't work.
"We just went out and gave it go on Saturday. The lads worked really hard and I felt we should have got a point from it.
"The lads were all a bit downbeat at the end about the result but it was all positive in the clubhouse afterwards.
"The boys responded from the previous week and there were plenty of positives to take out of the game which we now need to take into our next matches."
With Stamford loanee Max Peverell out injured, Simon Dalton returned in goal on Saturday for Stones who found themselves trailing early on.
Conor Moore floated in what looked like a cross that looped over Dalton and into the far corner of the home net.
Despite the setback, Stones fought for every loose ball in the midfield and pushed on against a very disciplined defence and agile keeper.
They continued to knock on the visitors' door after the break and got back on level terms after 50 minutes when Callum Madigan fired home from a setpiece.
The game then swung from end to end with Scott Waumsley outstanding for Stones and Matt Cox deserving his man of the match award.
Jack Wilson came close to putting the hosts ahead only to be denied by a fine save before Radford struck a 77th minute winner.
A misplaced pass was intercepted and Ryan Smith emerged from a crowded goalmouth to steer home the winning goal.
Burton added: "You do start to think if it was going to be the same as the week before when we went behind so early on but we had chances and in fairness I thought it could have gone either way in the first half.
"The boys responded again in the second half. The equaliser got our confidence up and we battled on from then."
Stones now face an away double with a trip to seventh-placed Dunkirk on Saturday before they visit 16th-placed Lutterworth Athletic on Tuesday night.
They remain second from bottom of the table but are only four points adrift of safety.
Burton commented: "We have to worry about the teams around us and let those at the top just get on with it.
"We need to build on the confidence, keep working on our fitness and the big games will be against the teams around us.
"If we can get our head above water in that way then we will be fine."
Stones: Dalton, Gilbert, Pike, Goodale, Madigan, M Cox, Williams, Neves, Waumsley, Wilson (J Cox), Gargan (Clemenson (Sakovich)). Subs not used: Wallace, Page.
