OLLIE Cherrett watched Christchurch succumb to a 3-0 defeat in his first game in charge before insisting his team had been hugely unfortunate.

Priory were sunk by visitors Downton with a brace from Declan McGregor and a further effort from Lyndon Taylor doing the damage.

However, boss Cherrett refused to be downhearted over the Sydenhams Wessex One fixture and said his players had performed well.

Cherrett, who signed Merley's Luke Stone last week, told the Daily Echo: "I thought the lads bossed the game from start to finish. I think Downton had four shots on goal and scored three.

"Their manager said afterwards that it was the best performance he had seen from his goalkeeper. He made some unbelievable saves and I don't think the result told the whole story.

"The result wasn't what we wanted but sometimes you learn more from defeat than you do from winning. If you win 3-0 then everyone thinks you are the best team in the world.

"They are a good group of lads at Christchurch who have listened to what we have said. I'm not too downbeat about Saturday at all."

Priory: Knights, Gage, Swindlehurst (Thompson, 75), Dand, Hughes, Cullen, Randall, Smith (Finnis, 82), Stone, Osborne (Kittle, 60), Goward.