When you travel with only five senior players and a bench that consists of two members of your under 18's team, you know you're going to be in for a long night.

That was the position that we found ourselves in when we made the journey to Holmes Chapel.

Having played Holmes Chapel in our first home game of the season, we were very much aware of what they could do and they were capable of beating any team in the league. Of  our starting lineup who beat Holmes Chapel that night, only one was available this time round.

Adam Smith started in the backcourt with Stu Wilson. Ian Brown, Anthony Worthington and Adrian Willey took up their spots in the front court.

The first half was really our undoing. Our offence wasn't really existent. Although Holmes Chapel's court (for want of a better description) is the worst in the league, we still should have been able match them for intensity. We just couldn't. With three of our remaining big men absent, it meant at time that Adrian Willey was left to battle for rebounds by himself.

David Troman and Jonny Harter from the Titans U18's squad gave great performance off the bench and Adam Smith had returned to scoring form after a virus had put a dent in his performance during our previous game.

The game was just too much. We were tired and looking in all the wrong places for an excuse. Ultimately, lack of players aside, we gave it what we could but we just weren't good enough.