MARK Fell laid the maddening nature of football management bare after watching his side lose at bottom club Goole just a week after they won at then league leaders Bamber Bridge.

Saturday's dismal afternoon in East Riding started badly for Fell's men when Carl Stewart put the home side in front in the sixth minute.

And the frustration levels rose steadily throughout the day as the Rams failed to find a way past their lowly hosts, who kept a clean sheet to claim only their second victory of the season.

Rammy's sixth defeat in seven league outings this campaign saw them drop into the bottom half to 14th in the table.

"If I never have to go to Goole again I’ll be delighted," said Fell.

"It summed us up, one week we go to top of the league Bamber Bridge and completely outclass them, then we go to bottom of the league Goole and can’t find a way to score, concede a soft goal and are beaten – it’s enough to drive you mad.

"Putting your finger on it is the tricky bit, we made one enforced change to the side that beat Bamber Bridge, set up the same, prepared the same.

"The lads actually trained better in the run up to Goole.

"It has to be a mentality thing."

Fell has not given up hope, however, that he can turn around the club's fortunes and guide them back into the play-offs, where they sat for the majority of the first three months of the campaign.

If they are to storm back up the league, the Rams boss believes a hectic run of games during December could present an opportunity, starting with the visit of new league leaders South Shields on Saturday.

"I wouldn’t put it past us beating South Shields, that’s what we are like, but a lack of consistency will kill us in the end if I don’t get it right," he admitted.

"We are about to enter the most important stage of the season.

"December brings some very tough games with it, but an opportunity to pick up a good haul of points and claw back the four points which would have us back in the playoffs.

"The four games in nine days over the festive period are usually telling, we need to be at our best and keep believing. I certainly do."