TADLEY Calleva were left to rue their missed chances on Saturday as they went down 3-1 to visiting Wessex League division one promotion chasers Horndean.

Despite being without leading scorer Ben Dillon, the home side took the lead after 15 minutes from a well worked corner routine as Barry Smith’s cross hit the back of the net thanks to Pete White’s glancing header.

Tadley then had further chances to extend their lead, through James O’Keefe and Ian Cadman, but both were wasted.

However, Horndean drew level from the penalty spot as Smith got a touch on the ball but brought the visitors’ striker down and was lucky only to receive a yellow card.

After the break, Horndean added a second after a melee in the centre of the park. The ball was moved forward 15 yards and from the resulting free-kick the ball went out for corner.

This was swung in and ’keeper Phil Jarrett was hampered as he tried to get the ball, which was fired in and touched home on the line from a Horndean striker in an offside position.

The home players’ protests were in vain and Tadley tried to get back on level terms with White and Smith going close.

However, on 78 minutes the visitors scored a third and that ended the contest.

One positive note from the performance was from 17-year-old centre-back Kieran Maylan, who came on for the injured Shaun Dallimore with 35 minutes gone and did really well against their physical opponents.

Talking after the game, manager Craig Effer said: “I was very pleased with the performance and there were plenty of positives to come out of the game. They have promotion aspirations and I felt we gave a good account of ourselves.”

This Saturday, Tadley travel to Cowes Sports looking to bounce back and then, at Barlows Park on Tuesday night, they entertain Basingstoke League champions FC Censo in the Basingstoke Senior Cup.