Basic errors cost injury-torn March Town United in 2-1 loss

HARES boss Jamie Weston condemned his side’s basic errors after injury-torn March Town United were beaten 2-1 by table-toppers Cambridge University Press.

A lacklustre first-half performance saw March two goals down at the interval against a team they thumped 5-1 in October.

And although a stunning finish from substitute Andy Bryan hinted at a late comeback, the Hares - who finished the game without several key players - failed to find an equaliser.

Weston said: “It was one of those games that was going to be won by an error. Unfortunately we made two big ones in the first half and that’s what cost us. Everything that could go wrong was going wrong.

“We’ve had this chat so many times, we cannot afford to keep gifting teams goals. They will take their chances and apart from the goals we’ve gifted them there’s nothing in the game.

“It’s the story of our season. In general, we’re in every game we play. We weren’t great today but we were in it. It was just the errors that cost us.

“We keep making the same very silly little mistakes that we’ve spoken about time after time and then we go out there and still do it.”

Weston’s day started badly at the GER when Lloyd Johnson was injured in the warm-up and full back Simon Bates picked up a knock mid-way through the first half.

The injuries were a further blow to March’s depleted squad, with Luke Pepper, Dan Sterna, Adam Cornell, Adam Sutton and Adam Weston all currently out of action.

It looked set to be a miserable afternoon for the Hares when the visitors took the lead after 15 minutes. Lee Clift gave his side the advantage by heading the ball past an onrushing Lee Brooks after a long throw was arrowed into the March penalty area.

Brooks’ day got worse 10 minutes later when Clift bagged his second from a wide free-kick which beat the Hares ‘keeper at his near post.

The league leaders could have extended their lead after the interval but Brooks was alert to save from Anthony Blandford.

It wasn’t until an hour had been played that March began to pick holes in the visitors’ defence.

Stand-in skipper Marc Welcher’s teasing deliveries kept the opposition defenders on their toes and Escorcio twice found space but failed to hit the target.

The Hares were eventually thrown a lifeline by veteran striker Andy Bryan who netted the goal of the game, bringing down a Welcher cross on his chest before swivelling and volleying the ball into the top corner.

But the strike failed to inspire March, and although Bryan almost snatched them a point with a late close-range effort, the Hares - and their frustrated boss - were left disappointed.

“I felt even when we got the goal we didn’t really believe we could get back in it,” said Weston. “They’re very efficient. There’s nothing spectacular about them but they’re top of the league for a reason.

“In terms of the squad, it was never a big one but now it’s even more stretched. These injuries have come at probably the most difficult stage of the season for us because we’ve got some tough, tough games. We’ve got a week now and hopefully people can start coming back.”