OXTED captain Ross Warnes said his side were very disappointed to lose to title-chasing Wimbledon on Sunday, adding that for once the Os lacked a cutting edge.
The Os' attacking displays have been particularly impressive in recent weeks, highlighted by a number of high-scoring encounters, but this clash of two of the top three sides in the division proved to be anything but that.
Warnes said the Os were surprised at Wimbledon's "conservative" approach to the match, which saw the game turn in to something of a stalemate, with Johnny Kinder's 40th minute penalty corner the difference between the two sides.
But the Os' skipper said it was a frustrating afternoon for Oxted, who were unable to break through against a resolute Wimbledon defence.
"For parts of the match we controlled the game," he said.
"But we didn't quite have that cutting edge in the final third, which we normally do.
"We were much more disciplined defensively, which is positive, but we lacked the guile to break down a defence that absorbed a lot of pressure.
"They didn't allow us to stretch the game, but it is disappointing because we were just not clinical enough in front of goal."
Warnes said the narrow margin of defeat showed how close the Os are to the top sides though, with Oxted now losing both games this season against Wimbledon by the odd goal.
"In both games we feel that we deserved something out of them," he said. "It is frustrating when you push these sides so close but end up with nothing, although it is no disgrace to lose 1-0 to a side like Wimbledon.
"But that was only our first defeat since Christmas and it is encouraging that we are able to put in that kind of performance against the top sides."
Warnes added that the Os' focus would now turn to Sunday's trip to the City of Peterborough to take on the division's bottom side.
But the Oxted skipper said the Os were under no illusions that it would be anything but a tough game, with Peterborough recently defeating promotion hopefuls Holcombe and mid-table side Old Loughtonians.
"We go into it feeling confident," he said. "We know they have to come at us because they are scrapping for their lives at the bottom, but it will be a tough game for us.
"It is massive, though, because we want to put a bit of daylight between us and the other sides aiming for third."
Following the game against Peterborough, Oxted face a double-header against Cambridge in the league and Surbiton in the semi-final of the Knockout Cup.
But Warnes says the side's focus is on the league campaign at the moment, adding that while the cup match was one to look forward to, the Os were intent on finishing strongly in the league as they aim to claim that third spot.
