AFC Liverpool slipped to their second consecutive home defeat in five days as they went down 2-0 to Eccleshall, which was compounded by the sending off of captain Liam Coyne. Goals from Lascana Sidibe and Gavin Wood ensured a miserable day for the Reds in what was a lacklustre performance.

In an innocuous first half, both sides failed to make an impact and goalscoring chances were a rarity.

John Kennedy’s cross found Andy McCoy unmarked inside the box and though the winger showed a good touch to bring the ball under control first time, his instant shot was straight at Gavin Deaville, allowing the Eccleshall keeper to make the save.

At the other end, Paul Willis wasn’t even troubled as he gathered Nick Oxley’s direct free kick in what was the opposition’s only effort on target.

Things started to turn sour for AFC Liverpool at the start of the second half. Coyne shoved Sam Lovatt in the back before kicking the ball away in frustration, earning himself a yellow card. From the resulting free kick, Sidibe stole in unmarked at the back post to volley home Wood’s cross.

Minutes later, the Reds were down to ten men when Coyne received his second yellow card for dissent, but as the half wore on, Eccleshall failed to make the man advantage count for anything.

The game appeared to be dragging inexorably to a disappointing conclusion when the referee inexplicably awarded the visitors a penalty.

Patrick O’Driscoll rose with Sidibe to challenge for a cross and after Sidibe had won the header, the official deemed that O’Driscoll had fouled the Eccleshall striker to the bemusement of both sets of players. Wood stepped up to the mark and gratefully accepted the gift that had been given to his team as he sent Willis the wrong way when converting the spot kick.

AFC Liverpool 0-2 Eccleshall

Sidibe 52’ Wood (p) 84’

AFC Liverpool: 1.Paul Willis 2.Paddy O’Driscoll 3.Lee Mullin 4.Darren Torpey 5.Liam Coyne (C) 6.Phil Stafford 7.Tod Bamber 8.John Kennedy (15.Daniel Guy-Currie 75’) 9.Chris Parkes (14.James Rushton-Woods 75’) 10.Andy McCoy 11.Dean Thurston (12.Conor Murphy 60’)

Unused Subs: 16.Karl Bell GK.Ryan Mainwaring

Eccleshall: 1.Gavin Deaville 2.Steve Brunt 3.Gavin Wood (C) 4.Alex Hutchinson 5.Richard Leech 6.Dhalamini Dalisizwe 7.Peter Shore 8.Nick Oxley 9.Sam Lovatt (15.Dwayne Spence 68’) 10.Lascana Sidibe 11.Tom Loraso (12.Alex Barnfather 70’)

Unused Subs: 16.Liam Kerrigan

Attendance: 135