The John Barton column

SIX points were up for grabs last week but we ended up with just one which was disappointing and frustrating.

But both Moor Green and Ilkeston Town were on the rebound as far as cup results were concerned and sometimes the way fixtures fall can add to your problems as it did for us.

After losing in the FA Cup the Moors and the Robins were both determined to put it right in the next game which unfortunately was us.

In the Moor Green game we were outstanding for 35 minutes but like so many times this season we couldn't get our noses in front after having them on the ropes and ended up paying the price.

Against Ilkeston I was bitterly disappointed with our performance. They are a decent side and started brightly and got the bit between their teeth.

However from our point of view we were on the back foot and stood off and when you do that you create problems for yourself.

At a different level England did the same thing the next day against Greece but it doesn't work. We let people play without putting them under any pressure.

Why we did this I don't know but sometimes players are not in the best frame of mind. Perhaps they lack confidence and think about consolidating rather than speculating with their play.

They try to protect what they already have but end up sitting too far back.

There was a chance for us to make ground on the leaders in the Dr Martens Premier Division but we didn't take it.

But having said that we are still only 11 points behind the leaders.

We've had some decent results this year, four points out of six from Ilkeston, drawing with Weymouth at the top and there is enough for us to know we have a chance but it is a case of getting back to our best.

However we can't afford to slip any further behind.

Against Ilkeston the refereeing was inconsistent and from our point of view we didn't get fair play which is all players and managers want.

Mark Shepherd now faces a three-match ban after being sent off and it has been a destructive start to the season for him.

He's come back from a groin injury, fought his way back and was showing signs of improvement but now faces another spell on the sidelines and it is disruptive.

We got two penalties against Ilkeston making it nine for the season to date but I think we went a hell of a long way without one last year.

The fact we have had so many is a back-handed compliment because we look more like scoring and players are getting into the final third of the pitch to create these decisions.

I would be the first to admit we've had a couple of fortuitous decisions but by and large they have been right and if I was a striker I would certainly want to take them.

This Saturday sees us make the long journey to Cornwall for the third qualifying round of the FA Cup with St Blazey and let's get this straight -- this is a very tough match.

The name doesn't roll off the tongue like more well-known clubs but that doesn't hide the fact that this is a tough side that we will need to be at our best to beat.

Any side that is at the top of the table and won every game they've played this season will, as with any side at whatever level, have confidence and belief from winning matches.

Graham Selby has watched them and it's going to be a difficult tie.

n John Barton was talking to reporter Nat Sylvester.