Rothbury suffer their third successive league defeat

Most frustrating for manager Dan Herron was that the Reds had began the brighter once again and he called on his players to show some steel when they concede.

One of the aspects of last season’s championship side was just how settled it was – but the boss is having to juggle at present as injuries, suspensions and unavailability have had an impact.

“Exactly like last week, we played well in the first half and were on top, and go in behind again,” said Herron, who described the Bohs’ pitch as ‘like a field Hammy would keep the cows on!”

“We seemed positive at half time but again we never showed up. We need to change our mentality for going behind to be honest - we just looked like we didn’t want it. Credit to Bohs, they smelt blood and went on to punish us, and were deserved winners in the end with no complaints from us. It could have been 6 or 7 in the end.”

Playing possession football in a swirling wind and on the boggy surface was proving a challenge but Rothbury were comfortable and had more of the play throughout the opening exchanges.

However, in the 40th minute, former Reds striker Michael Old returned to haunt his ex-team-mates again by grabbing the opener as an innocuous-looking cross bounced between keeper Paul Appleby and skipper Sam Proudlock with Old getting something on the ball to divert it over the line.

Just two minutes later and the ball was in the back of the net again when a half-cleared corner fell for Dan Ure to shape a volley into the top corner.

“It was a great goal if he meant it,” said Herron. “But it looked more like a cross.”

Josh Spurling added two more for Bohs after the break with a deflected shot and a superbly hit free-kick which rippled into the roof of the net.

“I was quite annoyed, but it’s hard for us at the moment when we’ve got a few players missing. It’s difficult to get the team settled with all the changes,” admitted Herron.

The result saw Bohs leapfrog Rothbury into eighth spot while the Reds have gone down to 11th on goal difference, with Whitley Bay Sporting and Cramlington United.