That was the view of hugely disappointed boss Neil Aspin after his side had been beaten by a Dale Wright free kick that deflected in off Steve Payne.

The Shaymen had opportunities to score goals and plenty of possession.

But players like James Dean and Tom Baker, who had played a major part in a start to the season which had seen 21 wins in 23 games, were unable to capitalise.

"Players have to believe in themselves, do the right things and play in the right areas," he said.

"They have to show better quality because the quality on Saturday was very poor.

"Tom Baker had the poorest game I have seen him have but we are not a one man team, and if he is struggling, somebody else has to take responsibility and help him out.

"If he is struggling with dead balls someone has to take them off him.

"I took a lot of satisfaction in being unbeaten and it is a blow. I don't like it and don't want to get used to it."

Twice in the first half Town had clear openings but failed to take them.

And Prescot made them pay 17 minutes from the end when they scored the only goal of the game.

"It is so important to take the lead in games like that," said Aspin.

"We had chances to go 1-0 up. If we get it, it changes the structure of the game and the pattern of play.

"If you don't get it, it keeps the opposition in with a chance and they make it difficult."

The Hope Street pitch made it doubly difficult for Town who were unable to get their passing game going.

But Aspin refused to blame the boggy surface for the defeat.

"I am not going to blame the conditions, it was in our hands," he said.

"You are going to get conditions that are not great, places where the surface is not brilliant, but you have to do the job.

"We did not do the job on Saturday.

"We didn't put their goal under enough pressure, the quality of dead balls was poor and we have ended up conceding an own goal.

"Steve Payne got a touch to the free kick and that summed up the game."

Aspin acted in the first half to try to improve things when he brought on Luke Richardson for Mark Hotte and switched Aaron Hardy to right wing back.

And he removed defender James Riley after the break in a bid to put the home side under more pressure.

"I just felt the way Prescot were playing that we needed to get more bodies forward and Aaron Hardy is probably a bit more inclined to go forward than Mark Hotte," he said.

"It was the same when we took James Riley off.

"It was not that he had done anything wrong, we were looking to be more attack minded.

"I would have been more disappointed with myself had we lost 1-0 and I had not changed the formation."

Town fans wishing to travel to Skelmersdale for Saturday's Unibond One North clash can book their places now by calling 07707 143094 (after 5.30pm). The cost will be £12 and transport leaves the Shay at 12.30.
Bookings are also being taken for the League Cup trip to Durham (£12) which will leave at 5.15

Wayne Riley scored the only goal as Northwich Victoria sent League One Charlton crashing out of the FA Cup.
Riley struck with nine minutes remaining for the Blue Square North side.
Drewe Broughton got a late winner for Rotherham as they won 3-2 at Wealdstone.
Adam Le Fondre and Kevin Ellison had put Rotherham two up before Ryan Ashe struck twice to level the match.
Broughton netted the winner with eight minutes remaining.
Ryan Austin headed a last-minute winner as Burton Albion beat Oxford City 3-2.
Shaun Harrad, with a penalty, and Jacques Maghoma scored Burton's other goals, with Michael Alexis and Jamie Brooks scoring for Oxford.