Southam manager Barry Shearsby admitted in the wake of his side's defeat at home to Brocton last Saturday that their faint promotion hopes had finally been dashed.
After finishing third in the previous two campaigns, Saints had hoped to build a credible promotion challenge, but their defeat to Racing Club Warwick on Boxing Day was followed by another at high-flying Heath Hayes and the slide down the table has c
ontinued apace with only one point gained from the last 15.
Defeat to Brocton made it five league games without a win, leaving a season that promised so much in tatters.
Trailing by two goals at the interval, Saints improved after the break but, despite hitting the post through debutant James Hardie and having another shot cleared off the line, they only had an 87th-minute strike from Max Beard, his first for the club, to show for their efforts.
Shearsby did not mince his words, saying: "We gave Brocton a two-goal start and, despite performing better in the second half, we're just not good enough to make up the leeway. Our first half was poor and there was a heated debate in the dressing room at half-time. While we looked the better side after the break, we just couldn't peg Brocton back and, to be fair, they just edged it over the 90 minutes.
"Realistically, it is now a case of planning for next season, but there are still a lot of matches to be played before then and there will be plenty of chances for people to show me what they can do."
Saints are at home to Cadbury Athletic tomorrow (3pm).
