Kevin Wilson admitted that Rai Simons and his Ilkeston FC teammates got what they deserved when they were beaten 3-1 at the New Manor Ground by promotion-chasing Matlock Town.
The damage was caused by poor defending in the first period that gifted three goals to Matlock in the opening 40 minutes and although the Robins were much tighter at the back after the break, there was no way back.
Said Wilson, "There haven't been too many occasions this season when I've had a hold up my hands and admit that we didn't deserve any more than we got. But it was a poor performance - especially our defending - and I'm very disappointed.
"We knew what Matlock were all about. They're an experienced team who get the ball down the sides and feed off the hard work of their two front-men and we didn't match it with a similar work ethic of our own.
"It was a tough lesson for our youngsters and I sincerely hope they learned something from the afternoon. The bottom line was that we didn't work hard enough - individually or collectively - and that's unforgivable."
Matlock had the edge right from the start yet when they went in front after 24 minutes, the opportunity for Danny Hollands to score from close range should never have been presented to him.
The same applied five minutes later when the Robins failed to deal with a corner from the left and defender David Heggerty turned the ball in from inside the six-yard box.
Three minutes later, Wilson's men pulled one back when an intelligent quick-throw from James Reid gave Kane Richards the chance to claim a well-taken goal - his second in successive home games - from a shape angle.
But Matlock re-established their two-goal advantage before half time when Shaun Tuton broke away to lob the ball over Ross Etheridge after possession had been needlessly given away on the halfway line.
Gary Ricketts squandered a gilt-edged chance to make it 3-2 before Wilson sent on Goran Seymour for his Evo-Stik League debut - along with Simons and Chey Adams - in a bid to rescue the situation and the Robins finished with seven teenagers on the field.
But Matlock deserved the success that lifts them into eighth spot in the table, while the Robins slip to14th.
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