LIVID assistant boss Dave Lewis has accused his Folland Sports flops of only getting themselves up for the big games.

With second-placed title rivals Moneyfields due to visit in the Sydenhams Premier Division tonight, Lewis wouldn’t be surprised to see the Planemakers win.

If they do, that would only add to his sense of fury about Saturday’s shameful 5-3 home defeat to fourth-to-bottom Verwood.

In a damning verdict on his side’s attitude, Lewis said: “Mental preparation – horrific. Pre-match warm-up – horrific. Application during the game – horrific. Result – horrific.

“We gave the players all the right information and warned them that Verwood are a decent side who had just beaten Blackfield 2-1 and yet they completely did their own thing.

“They’re evaluating the opposition and applying their own mentality to games depending on who they’re playing. What they’re not doing is applying a title-winning mentality to every game – and I’m disgusted with that.

“What they don’t realise is that everyone wants to beat Follands, Winchester, Blackfield, etc.

“These teams (like Verwood) are down the bottom for a reason, but when they play sides like us they want to beat us badly.

“We’ve got Moneyfields tonight and, because we know they’re a good side, the players will turn up with a bit of fear and instead of going out with an OK attitude, they’ll go out with a sharp attitude.

“But for me the minimum requirement in football is that you fight for every blade of grass and win your personal battles in every game you play. That’s what Verwood did and they’ve scored five goals. I take my hat off to them.”

The Planemakers’ lack of of urgency cost them dear in the first half as Verwood eased into a 3-0 lead courtesy of youngsters Jordan Fisk and Dan Munday and experienced campaigner Matt Groves.

Follands reduced the arrears, but Fisk and Josh Buck soon had the Potters 5-2 up before the visitors conceded again.

Nathan Lynch, Matt Burt and Ryan Long netted for Follands, but Lewis raged: “I can’t even remember who scored, I was that furious. I’d rather have a team of average players performing than a team of good players underperforming.

“I took two players off at half-time, but it wouldn’t be fair to name them and use them as scapegoats because it could have been anyone. We were better in the second half and scored three goals, but the nature of the two we conceded was horrific.”

The former Bashley, Newport IoW and Andover midfielder added: “I feel like getting my boots back on again, not because I’m better than them but just to shame them to be dropped for a 43-year-old has-been/never-was-been.”

Despite recent slip-ups, Follands remain fifth, nine points behind leaders Petersfield with a game in hand. “On current form we’re a mid-table side and yet we’re still in it, even though we don’t deserve to be,” said Lewis. “If we can pull our socks up, we’ll be right in the mix.”

Wayne Boud is back from suspension tonight, but skipper Jamie Barron (suspended), Ryan Long (work) and Ryan Gosney (injured) miss out.

One bright note from Saturday was the second-half return of James Roden after a six-week injury lay-off.