PEWSEY Vale chief Nick Maggs admits that inconsistent team selection is hampering his side’s efforts this season.

Vale put in an encouraging performance against unbeaten league leaders Fleet Spurs last weekend but still slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Ball Road, their ninth successive loss in all competitions.

Danny Kilderry struck to reduce the deficit in the second period and the visitors were reduced to ten men when Ben Clisby was shown a straight red card for foul and abusive language towards the referee but Pewsey couldn’t pull off a comeback.

“We have been struggling to find our feet and a lot of that is because I haven’t been able to pick a consistent side,” said Maggs.

“From the game against Laverstock last week, we had seven players that were unavailable but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing because we were so poor in that game.

“Once again, we left ourselves too much to do on Saturday. We let them get ahead inside 60 seconds.

“That was frustrating because I had no complaints over the performance. Of the 14 players that were in the squad, seven of them were 18 or under and those young guys did really well.

“I think that we could have gotten something out of the game.”

Maggs’ men go looking to finally get back to winning ways this weekend when they make the trip to the Isle of Wight to take on struggling East Cowes Victoria.

Striker Dan Sloan returns to the squad after missing the game against Fleet Spurs through work commitments.

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