LITTLE Oakley midfielder Lee Barrett admitted the timing of the first goal was a sucker-punch in his side’s 3-0 defeat at home to Halstead Town.

The teams met in a Thurlow Nunn League first division contest at the Memorial Ground on Tuesday night.

Kane Gilbert’s precision free-kick seconds before the interval put the Humbugs ahead and they added to their tally after the break through Chris Harris and Gilbert again.

“Their first goal came at the wrong time for us, a few seconds before half-time,” said Barrett.

“It was a great free-kick, to be fair, but it meant we went in at the break with our heads down, after a really positive first half in which we’d been the better team.

“We missed a few chances, myself included, but came out positively in the second half.

“We tried to play on the front foot but they always looked a threat on the break.

“Halstead’s second was a bit of a sloppy one, from our point of view, and from that point on it was always going to be difficult to come back.

“Our body language suggested that.

“Heads went down a bit and although the final score was a touch harsh, I guess we got what we got deserved in the end.

“It’s frustrating because in spells during the game we played really well and were very positive.

“But if you make mistakes at the back, you get caught out at this level.”

Oakley have six fixtures left – five of which are away from home.

They go to Wisbech St Mary on Saturday and AFC Sudbury Reserves on Tuesday.

After that they play their final home match, against March Town United on March 21, before finishing with trips to Team Bury, Framlingham Town and Norwich United.

Barrett hopes his team finish strongly and says whatever happens, the team will have benefitted from their first year of step six football.

“We’ve got a few young players and they’ll only get stronger, both mentally and physically.

“It’s been an experience for them and hopefully, in time, we’ll learn to cut out those mistakes.

“We need to become a bit more resilient but there are a lot of players here who are easily good enough for this level and hopefully we can build on the good things we’ve done this season.

“We’ve still got some winnable games left and want to finish on a high, not letting the season fizzle out.”

Oakley drew 1-1 at Diss Town on Saturday, with Harry Mann scoring the Acorns’ goal.