MARK Teeling has had a difficult beginning to his reign as Stotfold manager. A 2-0 home defeat by Newport Pagnell on Tuesday night followed Saturday s reverse to St Neots at Roker Park. An improved first-half performance saw them unlucky not to score agai

MARK Teeling has had a difficult beginning to his reign as Stotfold manager.

A 2-0 home defeat by Newport Pagnell on Tuesday night followed Saturday's reverse to St Neots at Roker Park.

An improved first-half performance saw them unlucky not to score against Pagnell. Lee Downham shot wide, after keeper Lee Purcell had spilled Patrick Alcide's cross, and Marc Holmes had his shot cleared off the line.

The visitors also showed their capabilities with Martin Kelly skimming the outside of the upright and Richard Armstong diving into the box to head a corner wide.

Pagnell made all three subs early in the new half and began to look the better team.

The breakthrough arrived on 64 minutes when Tony Hill fired in from close range after the ball had been cleared off the line.

Hill hit the bottom of the upright five minutes later before the lead was doubled on 83 minutes when sub Joe Ramscar was well placed at the far post to place a flicked-on corner into the back of the net.

Stotfold's best chances of this half came right near the end with Ian Thorne having his shot cleared off the line and Adam Furness shooting over from just inside the box.

Rokermen: Blower, Alcide, Purton, Mitchel, Drury, Beckett, Holmes, Nichol, Moulton (Furness 70), Thorne, Downham.

Teeling lost his first match in charge on Saturday, going down 3-2 in the derby match against St Neots at Roker Park.

The Eagles had the worst possible start as the visitors grabbed the lead after just four minutes. Keeper Nigel Blower was rooted to the spot as Ashley Deverall blasted home a free-kick.

Stotfold recovered and levelled eight minutes later. Alcide played the ball forward to Thorne who went on and beat the keeper.

Parity lasted just seven minutes as Sean Murray was given time to strike low past Blower. St Neots then hit the bar through Nick Hurst's header from a corner and Murray was denied by Blower as the half came to an end.

Stotfold fell further behind a minute into the new half as Mark Franklin played a one-two on the edge of the box before shooting low beyond Blower.

After missing several opportunities, Stotfold halved the deficit in the 90th minute. Thorne's neat footwork made space for a cross which was headed down by Nathan Moulton. His effort was blocked by the keeper but only as far as Alcide who bundled it over the line.

Thorne had a chance to grab a point when he was put through on the right. His low shot went under the keeper but just wide of the far post though.