Trojans refused to heed the warnings circulating around them last week by turning in an abject performance in losing their unbeaten record at lowly Nomads.

Their 14-7 defeat was heavily criticised by coach Pete Surtees.

"We were awful - absolutely awful," he said.

The visitors, looking to extend their advantage at the top of the table to a commanding four points with five games to play were outplayed in almost every department, barring the scrums where they held the edge.

Over-elaboration, carefree play and a pure disregard for the side that step out of the relegation zone for the first time this season on the back of their win, were Trojans' main downfalls.

In a free-flowing game, Nomads' resilient defending kept Trojans out and a fine mis-move in midfield allowed Tim Ayles to open the scoring for the hosts in the quarter mark.

This awakened the visitors and they were quick to reply through a converted effort by James Pennington.

But, on levelling the scores, they lapsed into relaxation mode and were ultimately made to pay.

With just ten minutes to go, Lee Tindal took the ball and outstripped the defence of the back three men to touch down under the posts for the winning score.

Although Trojans featured strongly late on, Nomads held on for a fully deserved victory.

Surtees did not hold back in his comments.

"My players need to think long and hard when they come training on Tuesday night," he said. "This performance was simply not acceptable.

"But I saw it coming. Training on Thursday was shocking and I think the lads were getting cocky. Maybe we needed a game like this - a defeat - to concentrate their minds.

"We could make excuses about having players injured or out, like Jon Brothers, Tim Zeale or Tom Mackintosh, but the players who came in did well. It was the existing players, the regulars who need to shape up and have a look at themselves. There are plenty of places in the second XV if they are not up to the task."

It goes without saying that the result was greeted by the same sort of jubilation at Sandown & Shanklin as that evident in the Trojans clubhouse after the Hurricanes' reverse the previous week to Alresford.

The title race is alive again.

As for Nomads, they have leaped from despair to edging close to safety all in the space of a month and this result takes them to eighth, sinking one-time league leaders Farnborough into the relegation zone.