Eynesbury tasted United Counties League Premier Division defeat for the first time in two-and-a-half months last Saturday.

And a 2-1 setback at struggling Northampton side ON Chenecks was a particularly costly one in the opinion of manager Mark Ducket.

He believes it ended Rovers last faint hopes of winning the title as they now trail table-toppers Peterborough Sports by 14 points with only a dozen games to go.

“I always think realistically and mathematically,” said Ducket. “And after the defeat last Saturday any chance we had of winning the league has gone.

“The sole challenge now is to finish second and that will be a tough task in itself. We’re five points behind Deeping and we have a lot of work to do.

“I have reminded all the boys of the way last season tailed off and I do not want to see a repeat of that.”

Eynesbury fell behind early on against ON Chenecks before Tom Coles levelled midway through the first half. He headed in a deep Daniel Moyes cross to score for the fifth successive match.

Good opportunities for Coles, top-scorer Craig Smith, and midfielders Hayden Bream and Jack Warwick then went begging as Rovers lacked their usual quality in front of goal.

And they were punished with 10 minutes to go as a deflected shot beat goalkeeper Jamie Greygoose.

“We didn’t defend well, we didn’t attack well and we can’t have any complaints about the result,” added Ducket. “We were nowhere near ruthless enough either.

“Our home form has been outstanding, but we’ve not been at the same level on the road.”

Third-placed Eynesbury entertain third-bottom Boston Town this Saturday.