EVESHAM United boss Paul Collicutt was left frustrated after an up-and-down run continued this week.
After battling to a well-deserved point at promotion-chasing Salisbury on Saturday, the Robins failed to build on the display as they slipped to a 3-1 home defeat to Kidlington on Wednesday night.
It was even more galling for Collicutt after Ethan Moore fired Evesham in front midway through the first half.
The Oxfordshire visitors, however, showed their finishing prowess with three goals in the final 20 minutes through Roger James, Anaclet Odihambo and Darius Browne as the Robins missed the chance to go into the top three in the Southern League East.
Collicutt will demand a response on Saturday when Evesham, who now lie sixth but two points behind third-placed Didcot Town, entertain second-from-bottom Mangotsfield at the Spiers & Hartwell Jubilee Stadium.
After chalking up three wins in a row at the end of September, Collicutt’s men have stuttered, bowing out of two cups and losing three of the last four league games.
It’s left the boss baffled. He was full of praise for the players after keeping out Salisbury, but disappointed they seem to be struggling to keep up their levels of performance.
Evesham had the perfect start on Wednesday when Moore, on loan from Gloucester, scored his first goal.
He was in the right place on 25 minutes to finish with a precise header from a Jordan Bryan cross.
But Kidlington’s incisive passing posed plenty of problems, with Robins captain Linden Dovey clearing off the line from Odihambo.
On 70 minutes the visitors were level when sub James got onto the end of a free-kick and then more poor defending allowed Odihambo the opportunity to fire past Kevin Sawyer before Browne added a third in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
On Saturday, Sawyer has been in outstanding form in a defiant defensive show which kept out free-scoring Salisbury.
The former Salisbury keeper made three crucial saves in the first half to deny Kane O’Keefe twice and Lewis Benson while an O’Keefe backheel hit the post.
Evesham, though, also had chances, Lewis Powell firing off target and Leroy Odiero wasting a headed chance from Bryan’s cross while Paul Fahy drilled wide late on.
Meanwhile, Greg Peel looks set to return his former club Larkhall Athletic.
The one-time Leeds United, Fleetwood Town and Carlisle United youngster made the switch from Larkhall to the Robins in the summer.
The 23-year-old has scored three goals but he has found his opportunities in the first team restricted in recent weeks after the arrival of Lewis Powell and Ethan Moore from Gloucester City on loan.