SAINTS Women's boss Marieanne Spacey-Cale insisted a “frustrating” first half was partly to blame for Sunday’s 2-1 defeat against promotion rivals Crystal Palace.

The hosts were second-best during the opening 45 minutes and went in at the break 2-0 down through goals from Isibeal Atkinson and Championship top-scorer Elise Hughes.

Saints threatened to rescue a point in an improved display after half time but they were ultimately unable to overturn the two-goal deficit – despite Lucia Kendall pulling a goal back.

Spacey-Cale believes the coaching staff should take some responsibility for the defeat for not altering the pattern of the game.

She claimed: “It was tough. It was a frustrating first half and we have taken responsibility as a coaching staff.

“We should have changed things sooner. It’s easy to say that now, we’ve got to be better as a staff so we can set the players up in the right way for the next league game that we play.

“In the first half, we were not really in the game at all so if we get a chance, we have got to be clinical just to put a marker in the sand that we can get into this game.

“You have a chance but then you switch off a little bit and make poor decisions in and around the ball and you get punished.”

Spacey-Cale added: "It was good to see the reaction in the second half. We came out a lot brighter and we were better with the ball.

"When we changed shape, it just made us look more connected and more of a group than where we were in the first half.

"It is frustrating because the board goes up with four minutes (added on) and you think it has got to be more than that. It’s so inconsistent.

"If you look back at the beginning of the season, there are 10, 11, 12 minutes added on for time-wasting. They are not excuses.

"We were in the ascendancy and that’s when you must make sure you put your chances away. We had a couple of really good chances but ultimately it wasn't enough."

The result means Palace have leapfrogged Saints in the table but the south coast club remain only three points behind leaders Charlton.

Spacey-Cale is relieved Saints are still in the hunt for promotion - but knows a good response is needed with five teams being separated by four points.

She insisted: "Nobody has taken advantage today, but teams have gone out and scraped a draw probably and we haven’t.

"This league is so topsy-turvy. That’s the difference. We have lost too many games."