Newark & Sherwood assistant manager Tristan Spencer says standards have to remain high after 5-2 League Cup defeat to Clay Cross

Newark & Sherwood have been reminded of the need to keep standards high.

A bad day at the office was ruthlessly punished as the Highwaymen lost 5-2 at home to Clay Cross in the League Cup on Saturday.

Jamie Williamson’s early opener was immediately cancelled out and the visitors went 2-1 up before Kameron Campbell levelled.

But that was as good as it got for Newark as a series of mistakes were punished.

The Highwaymen are a good side but can’t afford to let their levels slip.

“It was a humbling experience,” said assistant manager Tristan Spencer, who was in charge with boss Romaine Graham serving a one-match stadium ban.

“It was a game that reminded us that we always have to keep our standards high and we didn’t.

“Clay Cross played very well, and all credit to them, but there were a lot of things we wish we could have changed in terms of our performance.

“We needed better application and better focus.

“We gave away some real sloppy goals.

“If we were focusing more and following the plan a bit more in certain situations, I feel the majority of the goals could have been avoided.

“As much as anything, football is about momentum and if you’re giving away sloppy goals, it’s going to get them going and they took advantage of our sloppiness.

“We had a great start, then we gave away a goal where we got caught passing it around at the back, a misplaced pass, a lack of communication and they were in on goal.

“We had an honest conversation after the game.

“We’re all in it together and we know it’s not to our standards and it’s something we need to correct.

“Neither of the games we’ve played against Clay Cross have been played to our standards and that’s on us.

“I don’t want to discredit Clay Cross - they played well - but we knew what their dangers were and we didn’t handle it how we planned to.

“That part is disappointing but it’s football. We’ve got a young team and there’s always room for growth.”

Newark & Sherwood return to United Counties League Premier North action with home games against Belper on Saturday (3pm) and Hucknall on Tuesday (7.45pm).

“We’re three or four games behind the majority of teams in the league,” said Spencer.

“If we win all our games I think we go second, so there’s a lot to play for.

“You’d rather have points on the board than games in hand but we’re looking forward to making that a reality.”