ADIE Arnold watched Christchurch succumb to a 4-0 defeat at Andover Town and then warned his side they were prime relegation fodder.

Priory were 3-0 down at half-time at the Portway Stadium and a further goal in the second period deepened their misery.

Christchurch are now without a Sydenhams Premier victory in nine outings and this latest defeat meant they missed the chance to climb out of the bottom two.

And manager Arnold admitted his team were destined for the drop unless they improved their displays.

He told the Daily Echo: “It’s time for people to stand up and be counted or we’re gone.

“Ability gets you so far and we have got ability, but you have got to do the other side of the game which is about desire, commitment and winning personal battles. There are not enough players doing that.

“As I said to the boys afterwards, we’re halfway through the season, we’re in the mire and we’ve got a big relegation battle on our hands. It isn’t rocket science, the job now is to stay in this league.

“I want people to look at themselves and come back and be prepared to put more effort in, and use the ability they have got on a more consistent basis.”

Arnold admitted that a failure to defend properly had let his side down in the first half and that despite a better second-period performance, the game had already been lost.

He added: “I’m going to sound like a broken record but if we don’t defend better as a team then we’re not going to improve. Some harsh words and home truths were said at half-time and it was the first time I’ve lost it to a degree.

“I got the response I wanted as we stopped them playing and it was a better second half. But we have to play like that from the first minute rather than the 46th minute. The damage was done. We were 3-0 down and it was game over.”

Priory: Murphy, Reeves, Thoroughgood, Haysom, Swindlehurst, Saxby, Smith, Clark (Glatzel, 55), Cunniffe-Pilley (Goodship, 55), Vining (Davis, 75), Lovell.

  • Lymington Town extended to seven games their unbeaten league run as they held title-chasers Whitchurch United to a 1-1 draw.

In a game of few chances, James Davis had the hosts’ best opportunity in the first period when he was denied by the legs of keeper Brad Snelling.

After the break, Josh Green put Whitchurch in front from the spot after the referee had spotted an infringement following a corner.

A Davis turn and shot saw Lymo draw level but the goalscorer then went from hero to villain as he was dismissed for a second yellow card.

Sam Roberts had a clear opportunity to grab a second for the home side but Snelling again came to the rescue.

Elsewhere in the division, Hamworthy United lost 3-2 at Moneyfields.

In Sydenhams One, a Kabba Jack hat-trick and a Jack Dickson goal gave New Milton Town a 4-2 win at strugglers Romsey Town.

Harry Morgan and Phil Midson were on target for Ringwood Town in their 2-1 win at home to Pewsey Vale.