HALESOWEN Town manager John Hill admits it's been a frustrating start to the new season both on and off the field.

The Yeltz sit second from bottom of the Northern Premier League after a disappointing bank holiday weekend made it four successive defeats.

Town lost 2-1 at Buxton last Saturday before Sutton Coldfield bagged a 2-0 win at the Grove on Monday.

Defensive frailties have disappointed the boss, as have his endeavours to strengthen his squad in recent weeks.

Hill explained: "It's the same old story for us and it's very frustrating. We went 1-0 down early on at Buxton from a goal of our own making.

"In the end I think we deserved a draw from the game and had plenty of positives that we wanted to carry forward into the Sutton game.

"But that was another poor performance and we're 1-0 down after just two minutes again.

"As a management team the buck stops with us but it's frustrating because we are conceding goals far too easily. It's not as if the players haven't played at this level before and are out for their depth.

"Graham Hyde (coach) put on a really good training session before the weekend where we defended the box and dealt really well with balls fired in from all angles, but then the game comes around, we miss a straight ball in and are 1-0 down. Frustrating is an understatement."

Hill has found adding to his side equally as challenging despite goalkeeper Niall Maher arriving on loan from Morecambe and Sheffield-based midfielder Cecil Nyomi also linking up this week.

He added: "We are constantly on the phones trying to make things happen but it is very difficult.

"The recent arrivals will show you how far and wide we are having to cast our net to try and improve the squad the way we want. When local players become available there are three or four other clubs with big budgets that are interested and inevitably we miss out.

"We are going to need the players already here to step up and learn from their mistakes quickly."

"I know the fans are frustrated as well because they made that clear after the Sutton Coldfield defeat. It was difficult for myself and Matty Clarke (assistant manager) because we had our families there and there were some very unpleasant things said.

"I understand they are frustrated at the moment and they have every right to have there say, but if they knew how hard we work and the time we give to try and improve things then I don't think they'd say some of the things they did."

This Saturday sees Hales turn their attention to the FA Cup when Basford United visit the Grove (3pm).

Jordan Goddard, Ben Clarke and Cameron Steele are among those facing late fitness tests.

Meanwhile, the Yeltz have been drawn away at rivals Stourbridge in the Birmingham Senior Cup. The tie will be played before the end of October on a date yet to be confirmed.