Wisbech St Mary boss Arran Duke has admitted that the physicality of football at Step Six level has caught up with his players after they fell to a second consecutive Thurlow Nunn First Division defeat on Saturday.

Joe Woods’ second-half goal was the only highlight for the Saints as they went down 4-1 to Diss Town, and Duke has conceded that St Mary’s long campaign – which has seen them play almost 50 times in all competitions – is starting to take its toll.

“It was a poor day for us on Saturday,” Duke said.

“We did not got going and we suffered for that. At the moment we’re playing like the long season has caught up with us and there’s plenty of little knocks and injuries in the group.

“That certainly isn’t an excuse for Saturday’s result; we know we were not good enough.”

St Mary have dropped down the league standings in recent weeks and currently sit in 13th, but Duke is hoping his men can begin another climb with top performances in their five remaining games.

However, St Mary face two of the top three sides during that run - starting with the visit of champions-elect Stowmarket Town on Saturday afternoon (3pm) before a tricky trip to third-placed Coggeshall Town on Easter Monday (3pm).

“We are in a tough run of games and that continues this week,” Duke admitted.

“We know it will be tough but we have been very good of late so I’m hoping we can patch ourselves up and give a good account of ourselves in the remaining games.”