BOSS Carl Poore has called for Wessex League officials to rethink their fixture strategy after depleted Verwood Town were narrowly beaten at Newport (IOW).

Max Draper, making his home debut for Port, bagged the decisive goal after just three minutes as Potters, who travelled to the Isle of Wight with 13 fit and available players, lost 1-0 at St George’s Park.

Poore was adamant his side had warranted so much more from their trip across the Solent and argued that being forced to travel so far in midweek had hampered their quest for points.

“The players gave everything and I felt for them more than anyone else,” said Poore.

“It’s a rush to leave work, catch the ferry at six o’clock, get to Newport, play the game and then have to leave straight after.

“Ideally we would have preferred to go there on a Saturday as we would have had a full squad to choose from. When you don’t pay the players it’s hard for them to leave work early for nothing. I think the league need to look at it.”

On the match, Poore added: “I couldn’t believe we didn’t get anything from the game, it was the best we have played this season but we just couldn’t put the ball in the net.

“Their keeper was outstanding and certainly earned his wages because we controlled the game from the fifth minute to the last.”

Potters: Lynch, Evans, Buck, Foster, Anderton, Gajic, Dyer, Whelan, Fisk, Rutten, Murray (O’Connell, 75). Unused sub: Collins (g/k).