DEFLATED Wimborne player-manager Christer Warren was not amused after his side failed to defend a 1-0 lead at Grigg Lane in front of a 224 crowd.

Goal machine Scott Joyce headed them in front in the 27th minute, but after Steve Whitcher had twice gone close to doubling that advantage, Danny Veal bagged an equaliser for Brockenhurst.

It was the second time Magpies have been held to a draw by Brock in the league this season.

The latest stalemate saw Wimborne slip six points behind Premier Division leaders Totton, who won 3-1 at Bemerton.

Magpies still have two matches in hand and a better goal difference (plus 80 compared with Totton's plus 76).

But as Warren said: "We are running out of games and Totton keep winning, so we can't afford another slip up."

Wimborne's manager added: "Joycey scored a great goal in the first half and Brock's keeper has also pulled off two brilliant saves from Steve before the break.

"To be honest, that was all that happened in the game. It was a poor game. Conditions were not great because of bad, windy weather and from our point of view it was two points dropped.

"At 1-0 we should have been able to see out the game and keep a clean sheet.

"Their goal was poor and in the second half we didn't have one shot on goal.

"We looked comfortable. But there was no quality in the game whatsoever. It was poor from both sides.

"No-one was playing football. It was dreadful. It didn't have a tempo. It was very flat apart from two exceptional saves from their keeper in the first half.

"After Joycey's goal, which he headed home superbly at the far stick from Steve's cross, Steve had a header and a shot that went close.

"The header was destined to go in, but their keeper has made a world class save to keep it out.

"I remember when he played for Hamble he kept the score down against us then. It was an incredible save.

"We slipped up for Brock's goal. We had three people marking one player and somehow he has passed between our three and slotted it in, which is very disappointing."

Warren, chasing the title in his first full season in charge at Cuthbury, continued: "I was always mindful of Brock because they are a good side.

"Normally we would be happy with a point at their place but it was just a must-win game, like every game is now.

"Having got ourselves in front, we should have been able to see that game through.

"It was just a case of defending well and we would have won."

Wimborne: Walker-Harris, Jones, Percival, Phillipson-Masters, Bailey-Pearce, S Arnold, Woods, McCormick, Warren, Whitcher (Stokoe 65), Joyce. Unused subs: Vavrecka, Blackburn, Haysom, Hutchings.