Saturday's trip to second placed Wick was never going to be the easiest proposition and indeed that proved to be very much the case with the Barrowmen enduring their heaviest defeat of the season, going down 5-1 at Crabtree Park.

However, the scoreline did not really reflect the true pattern of play with us creating plenty of chances and on a number of occasions being crassly unlucky and not getting too much joy from some very questionable (assistant) refereeing decisions.

We lined up with Paul Kennett back in the side and up front Craig Knowles making his return debut having recently rejoined the club. Lee Early, Marcus Robertshaw, Ollie Pickup and Alfie Gritt were all unavailable.

The first half hour was truly a living nightmare with the home side racing into a 3-0 lead despite the game being end to end with good chances for both sides.

After Knowles lobbed just wide of an open net after about a minute in, play soon swung to the other end and on 8 minutes Reds winger Rob Hutchings cut in from the left to be brought down in the box by a rash challenge from
Kennett. Front man Ash Harper stepped up to stroke home the resulting penalty. 1-0 Wick.

Another fine left footed effort from Craig Knowles heading for the top corner was then well saved by Wick keeper Jordan Matthews before on 13 minutes Hutchings again cut through our rearguard to round Aaron Jeal and slot home goal number two. 2-0 Wick.

Seven minutes later the linesman seemed to miss a blatant offside much to amusement of the home support allowing a cross from the right the to find Harper who tapped in from close range. 3-0 Wick.

Despite this we did create chances, with Chad Milner shooting over from close in before on 33 minutes a fine strike from the left side of the box by Knowles found the bottom far corner the Wick net to bring us back into it.... Wick 3 Town 1.

Unfortunately though our joy was short lived when barely three minutes later the rampant Harper remained onside (according to the lino) to lob high over the advancing Jeal to bag his hat trick and Wick's fourth. 4-1 Wick.

A fine low save by Aaron from Matt Noble prevented another certain goal and down the other end a Lewis Levoi header was tipped just over by keeper Mathews. Half time - Wick 4 Town 1.

For the second half John replaced Rob Hare with Aaran Tewsley, who gave a very good account of himself on his first-team debut. Boxall went to left back, Parsons returned to centre back and Kennett pushed in to midfield.

We battled well and pursued the match again continuing to create chances and in the 60th minute a Levoi free-kick into the box found Matt Dodd whose header was pushed over by Matthews. From the resulting corner a powerful strike by Ash Finch was parried.

Ten minutes later a great pass by Finch sent Knowles clear to shoot narrowly over the top. Further chances fell again to Knowles, Jack Boxall and Levoi and Chad Milner might have done something if the lino had spotted a blatant pull by Wick's Dobbs. There was also time for a Milner headed from point blank range from a set piece to be chalked off for offside with two defenders on the line!!

On 75 minutes the game was well and truly put to bed when Hutchings raced clear down the left to curl a cheeky shot past Aaron for number five. Wick 5 Town 1.

Further chances for the home side followed as Steyning heads dropped and Ash Harper twice nearly netted his fourth.
Kris Harding and Callum Towse came on late but too late to make any real impact.

As said, we fought well, never gave up and were unlucky here and there in more ways than one. But at 'the end of the day' the league table doesn't lie and Wick are not where they are for no reason. We will bounce back! The team seems to have developed a soft side defensively recently, conceding too easily, and this needs to be addressed to make the most of the undoubted attacking threat we carry.

Result - Wick 5 Town 1

Steyning line up - Jeal, Hare, Parsons (capt), Finch, Kennett, Dodd, Shugga, Boxall, Milner, Levoi, Knowles Subs - Tewsley, Towse, Abbott, Harding

Ref - Bob Minty Assts - Stephen Johnson & Mark Spence