Another home game, another disappointing result. Our loss on Saturday against Gosport Borough meant we dropped to third position in the table.

After a positive result at Bath City in our last outing and our squad back to full strength, I was confident we could take all three points.

The starting eleven remained unchanged except for Andriu Santiago, who replaced John Arzamendi at centre back. Dave King, Reece Fleet and Bradley Bubb all started on the bench after they returned from suspensions and injury.

From kick off, it was evident how the game would be played. Gosport Borough decided to mimic the tactics of Chelsea away at Barcelona in the 2012 Champions League semi-final. Sit back, defend and hope for the best. However, just like Barcelona, we took the lead.

Declan Benjamin did brilliantly to make a run down the wing after winning two challenges, before his long diagonal pass found Carlos Pifarre who squared up the defender. After a shot from Pifarre was blocked, the ball bounced invitingly for our captain Darren Pond to strike a beautiful volley hard and low in to the corner. Two goals in two games for our skipper.

Seven minutes later, the lead was gone. Gosport Borough won a free kick just inside their own half as they piled men forward. The resulting ball into box was flicked on to the back post before a deflected shot bounced off the bar and found their number nine lurking to head the ball home.

An unfortunate goal to concede that sometimes can’t be helped.

Midway through the half, a Gosport penalty claim resulted in three of their players protesting and receiving yellow cards. A counter attack from the away side had allowed their number 11 to break into the box as Laurie Walker rushed off his line. Diving into the tackle, our number one got a foot to the ball, before bringing the Gosport winger down. The referee gave no penalty and allowed play to continue. The travelling away fans weren’t happy with the decision, but we were.

Despite having the majority of possession, the few chances we did create never really tested their goalkeeper, and we went into half time level.

Julien Lafuente came on at half time replacing Pond, who had picked up a slight knock. The second half continued like the first, Gosport Borough doing an impression of Greece in the European Championships of 2004. Defend. Defend. Defend.

In the second half, Bubb and Kynan Isaac were introduced as we began to pile more pressure on the away side as we did everything but score.

Conor McDonagh linked well with Isaac before watching his curling effort hit the bar. Bubb was the next to come close, his outstretched leg at the back post just missing the top corner. Minutes later, it was my turn to nearly score. My left footed shot was blocked on the line and Bubb unluckily hit the bar with his headed effort from the rebound.

It just wouldn’t hit the net.

All of a sudden, with five minutes to go, we were losing. A long throw in to the box allowed the leading scorer in the league to swivel and guide the ball home with his left foot.

A well-taken goal in all honesty, but how we lost is still a mystery.

Back to back home defeats have cost us. Maidstone have moved ahead of us into second position, while Ebbsfleet have extended their lead at the top to eight points.

The season has a long way to go, but we are not going to win promotion if we don’t start winning our home fixtures.