MANAGER Mark Tompkins was "lost for words" after Chipstead conceded two goals in either half of Tuesday night's 4-1 defeat to Met Police.

Restricted to only a handful of goal-scoring opportunities, the Chips never looked like they were going to get anything from the game after going a goal down within five minutes.

Chipstead have not won a Ryman Division One South game in seven attempts, and are increasingly getting dragged into the relegation dogfight.

They have picked up just two points in that time as they fight to stay above the bottom two.

In contrast, Met Police came into the match off the back of a 2-0 victory over top of the table Croydon Athletic.

Chips face the Rams on Monday at the Keith Tuckey Stadium, in less confident mood than over Christmas, when Chipstead held them to a 2-2 draw at High Road.

Goalkeeping coach Julian Leigh, providing words in place of the speechless Tompkins, admitted the Chips were below par.

"I think the best side won. They were better all round the park than we were and they had more desire than us," he said.

"We had a spell of 20 or 25 minutes where we got the goal and looked like we were going to get back into it.

"But then we conceded the somewhat bizarre third goal and heads dropped sadly.

"The difference between the two sides was desire, we just didn't have enough.

"I think what really showed it was the fourth goal.

"It was in stoppage time and we had a free-kick, they broke and there were three or fourth of our guys in the box, but they scored."

New Chipstead goalkeeper Matt Bromby did not give the most confident performance, but Leigh believes there is better to come.

"I think Bromby might be disappointed with the first goal, but I think he pulled off a couple of good saves in both halves," he said.

"Overall I know there is more to come from him because I've seen him play so I know what he can do. If I was marking him out of 10 I would probably give him a six."

Chipstead, who host Horsham on Saturday, face Croydon on Easter Monday knowing they are just three points off Whitstable Town in the drop zone.

Match report, page 71