AFC ALDERMASTON slipped to 14th in the Hampshire Premier League table after a 5-1 defeat at Liphook United on Saturday.

The visitors found themselves 2-0 inside 10 minutes after twice giving the ball away in dangerous areas, but they soon got themselves back into the game, Martin King heading home from a Chris Allen corner.

Aldermaston went in search of an equaliser, hitting the post and the crossbar, but Liphook hit them on the break to lead 3-1 at half-time.

Aldermaston’s task was made even more difficult when Matty Hoyte was shown a straight red card for an over-the-top tackle 10 minutes in the second period.

Liphook extended the lead in controversial circumstances on 75 minutes as the ball was knocked out of the hands of goalkeeper Ben Smith. The goal was allowed to stand, while a late counter-attack saw the hosts add a fifth.

Aldermaston must travel to Liphook again on Saturday, this time for a league cup game, but manager Terry Rooney remains positive.

“We have to regroup and look forward to the cup match,” he said. “I’ll probably change a few things but we will go there in a positive frame of mind, looking to get a result.

“The final score was not a reflection of how the game went last week. We are just getting punished for our mistakes at the moment.”