Blues left to rue missed chances

Jamie Strong’s 76th-minute goal pinched the points for second-from-bottom Saltdean to leave Blues just four points clear of the County League Division 2 relegation zone.

Waller said: “We did not play very well and were a bit rusty, if I’m honest. It’s a bit disappointing as we had got on a bit of a decent run, now we are back in trouble again.

“It’s a game we should have won as we had enough chances to win it, but it looked like they wanted it a little bit more.”

Ben Hamilton spurned a one-on-one chance in the first half, before Gavin Heater’s 25-yard effort forced a fine save from the goalkeeper.

In the second half, Jack Corbett ballooned over a golden chance from eight yards, before Saltdean netted on 76 minutes. They broke forward and, although Blues debutant goalkeeper Dave Hargreaves made a good save, substitute Strong followed up to finish.

Blues now host Westfield on Saturday, who sit two places above them in the table, and Waller said: “They are one of the teams we are looking to catch, but we have ten games left and we’ll be looking to win five. A lot of those games are against the teams around us, that we should be beating.”