Carshalton Athletic midfielder Matt Males said he and his teammates were left dumbfounded after defeat on Saturday.

The Robins played host to Hythe Town, and lost 1-0 thanks to Jack Harris' fifth minute goal, but the hosts squandered numerous chances to score especially when top marksman Tommy Bradford saw his penalty saved and Jordan Higgs' rebound hit the post.

It was a first defeat for Carshalton under new boss Chris McGinn, but it also stretches a run of games without a win to seven - the last being at Walton & Hersham on Boxing Day - and the club now sits 14th in the Ryman Division One South table.

Moreover, the Robins have not managed a win at Colston Avenue since mid-November.

Males said: "We were all scratching our heads afterwards because we felt like we did enough to win the game.

"We've lost a lot of players recently, but the spirit in our camp remains strong and I thought our defending against some of this league's better forwards was excellent."

He added: "But we need goals too. Mickel [Miller] had a one-on-one in the first-half, we had the penalty incident, Josh [Phillips] put a great chance wide right at the end and there were many others.

“It’s good to create so many opportunities, so much so that even a draw on Saturday would have been a disappointing result in our eyes, but we must start capping our approach play with goals.”

Males, who has plied his trade mostly at centre back this season, was handed his first start under McGinn against Hythe alongside skipper Tony Sinclair.

“I was pleased to be involved, and Tony and I have a good understanding after playing so many games together earlier in the season,” he said.

“The new boss seems methodical and gets his points across to the squad, at both training and on matchday, very calmly.”

Next up for Carshalton Athletic is a trip to Whyteleafe, who have won their past three league meetings, on Saturday.