BURNHAM Ramblers boss Bertie Brayley described their defeat against Redbridge as a “nightmare”.

Ramblers held a 3-1 lead at Leslie Field in their Ryman League division one north game with ten minutes to go but ended up losing 4-3.

Ramblers are still firmly attached to the bottom of the table and had targetted the game as massive in their attempts to avoid relegation.

But the result saw Redbridge move out of the drop zone and put Burnham deeper into trouble.

Brayley said: “I couldn’t believe it.

“We were 3-1 up – we had 11 men on the pitch and they had ten.

“We were keeping the ball well and looking comfortable.

“And then in a mad ten minutes, we lost the game.

“It is the hardest defeat I have ever had to take.

“I was gobsmacked.

“Maybe I could have made some different decisions during the game or done things differently but saying that, we should have held on to win the game.”

The visitors took an early lead on four minutes when Jacob Cleaver put them in front.

However, Kye Jude put the Ramblers back on level terms on 23 minutes.

Just before half-time the visitors were reduced to ten men when Leon Smith was sent off.

After the break, Isaac Aubynn and Emmanuel Johnson then put Burnham further in front.

But on 80 minutes Cleaver began the Redbridge fight back pulling a goal back.

Mark Nougher then equalised from the penalty spot four minutes later, after Marc Gorbell was adjudged to have handled the ball and was red carded.

And on 88 minutes Redbridge snatched victory when Vinny Murphy scored.

Brayley said: “I was very disappointed with Marc Gorbell’s red card that led to the penalty.

“It was a scramble in the box – he was on the ground, the ball was booted at his face and rebounded on to his hands.

“He got a straight red but that’s still no excuse.

“We were 3-3 and both with ten men on the pitch.

“I felt Saturday’s side was the strongest and toughest side I could have put out all season.

“And for most of the game it looked that way.

“Liam Burgess had to go off in the first half after he was pushed to the ground, which the ref missed, and jarred his neck.

“But to then lose the match was a nightmare.”

Brayley spoke to his players after the game to see what went wrong and what is needed to change their fortunes.

This weekend Burnham travel to Soham Town Rangers.