Four goals conceded, missed chances and a red card – 90 minutes that summed up AFC Sudbury’s season on Saturday, according to manager Jamie Godbold.

The Yellows are four points from safety in the Ryman Premier with three games to play, following this damaging 4-0 home defeat to league leaders Bognor Regis Town, at the Wardale Williams Stadium.

Second-bottom Sudbury were not expected to get anything out of Saturday’s game, but things could have been different had they taken their chances in the first half, either side of James Muitt’s opening goal for the visitors.

However, some poor finishing and inspired goalkeeping denied them, before James Baker was dismissed for a professional foul on 20 minutes, just as the hosts were showing signs of getting back into the game.

Craig Parker’s late penalty miss proved academic as Sudbury were already four-down by then, meaning Godbold’s side now face a momentous task to stay up, ahead of their final games against play-off chasing Tonbridge Angels (a) and Needham Market (h) and their final-day clash with 17th-placed Canvey Island.

“I thought we started relatively well and I said at half-time that we had three or four chances that we weren’t able to convert,” said Godbold.

“We were not bad in possession, but didn’t take our chances, were relatively easy to score against and we had the sending-off and the missed penalty. That sums up our season as a whole.

“We competed for the first 20 minutes with the best team in the league, but then they got their goal and we missed three chances that, had they gone to them, would have probably gone in.

“I was disappointed with the result but pleased with the team’s performance and work-ethic.”

Meanwhile, Godbold, who believes his side require two wins and a draw to survive, gave his thoughts on Baker’s red card.

“I’ve no complaints, the lad’s got in ahead of him and he (Baker) has brought him down on the edge of the box,” Godbold added.

“It was probably ill-discipline, knowing we are going to miss him for the next three games.

“Over the last 10 games we have not been able to pick our strongest side, knowing we have players sat in the stands suspended.”