Daisy Hill lost by a 3-2 margin for the second time in five days on Saturday, when they fell to defeat at Maghull in the North West Counties League First Division North.

After going behind to an early strike from Maghull’s Jacob Till, a Kyle Whittaker goal pulled Daisy level at the break.

Nathan Moffitt then put Maghull back in front on the hour, before Kaiden Barlow levelled for Daisy with 20 minutes remaining.

But straight from the kick off, Till grabbed his second goal of the afternoon from close range, which ultimately proved to be decisive.

Daisy coach Jack Iley summed up the frustration in the visiting camp after the game.

“I think to call it a bad day is putting it lightly,” said Iley.

“That was not a performance that you would associate with the quality of the players that we have got in that dressing room.

“It’s something that we will have to pull apart, watch the video, and I’m sure there will be plenty to take away from the game, and plenty to go through during the week with the lads.

“Losing bad goals seems to be a recurring theme recently. No one is pulling us apart, no one is playing through us and we’ve not turned round after any game and said that we were outplayed.

“The three goals were all individual errors, and it’s a tough one to take.

“On their third goal, there were 55 seconds between the ball going in their net, and then their goal hitting our net.

“It’s an old cliché to say that you are at your most vulnerable when you have just scored, but we have players in that dressing room who know they need to switch on.

“Again, it’s not been a goal where we were picked apart, it was individual errors with players not speaking to one another.

“The real frustration is that we were in the game right to the end, but we just didn’t have that cutting edge and desire to get the ball in the back of the net.”

The afternoon began badly for Daisy when they fell behind after just five minutes.

The Daisy defence failed to deal with a simple ball into the box, and when the ball fell to Till, he drove home the opener with a shot that went in off the post.

Daisy drew level on 21 minutes with a well-taken goal by right-back Whittaker, who reacted quickly to seize on a short pass back from Maghull’s Harrison Worden, before lofting the ball over the head of the advancing home keeper Callum Lenton from 25 yards to level the scores.

But it was the home side who created the best opportunities in the remainder of the first half, with Daisy keeper Morgan Newns making a smart save from a Till shot, and a few minutes later Maghull full-back Joseph Doyle spurned a great chance when he rifled over from 12 yards with only Newns to beat.

Daisy went close eight minutes into the second half when a cross-cum-shot from Ryan Lockett almost deceived home keeper Lenton, but he recovered to grab the ball just under the bar.

But on the hour, Maghull took the lead once more, when the Daisy defence again failed to clear their lines when a cross came into the box, and the ball landed kindly for Moffitt, who smashed home from close range.

With 20 minutes remaining, Daisy’s best move of the game led to the equaliser, when Ryan Talbot slid a neat pass through to Mussab Benaly on the right wing, and his cross to the far post was tapped in by Barlow to level the scores.

But straight from the restart, Daisy’s defence was again posted missing at a crucial moment, with Moffitt advancing into the box and being allowed time and space to cut the ball back into the path of Till, who restored Maghull’s lead.

Daisy continued to push forward, and Luke Roscoe headed narrowly over from a corner, and in the final minute Talbot had a shot saved by Lenton, but the home side held out to claim the win.

Daisy are back in action on Wednesday evening in the North West Counties League First Division North, when they travel to face Garstang.