CLEE Hill United were punished for a disastrous 15-minute spell either side of half-time as they lost 5-3 to Rock Rovers in the final of the Mercian League Division One Cup at the Bucks Head.

Trailing 1-0 as the interval loomed, Clee conceded a second goal right on half-time and then found themselves 4-0 adrift early in the second period.

Boss Wayne Whitbread said: “Had we kept it at 1-0 at half-time, I think we may have had a good chance, but the second goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of us.

"We looked flat and made an horrendous start to the second half.

“We played particularly well in the first half but made too many errors and were punished for them.

"As a team we seemed to switch off at vital times but it was still hard to fathom how we were 2-0 down at the break.

“We created some really good chances in the opening 45 minutes but failed to take them.

"I don’t think Rock had more than eight shots on goal all game yet they scored five.”

Adam Warren raised Clee Hill’s hopes with a deflected long-range reply but they were soon 5-1 down when they allowed a long punt from the Rock goalkeeper to bounce and conceded a poor fifth goal.

A foul on Dave Perks allowed Liam Whitbread to net a second from the penalty spot and Connor Deignan scored into the bottom corner to make it 5-3 as Clee Hill finished strongly.

Whitbread added: “To be fair the boys responded well after going 4-0 down and they deserve credit for that.

"They never gave up and finished the game on top.

“The final score flattered Rock but we have had a good season overall - it was just a pity we couldn’t have finished it by winning a trophy.”