OLD HILL 2 LUFFS 0 (3/0/04) LOUGHBOROUGH'S tale of woe continued as they travelled to Old Hill Town on Saturday and returned with nothing to show for it. The Luffs are beginning to wonder what they have to do to win a game of football, they give as good as they get and Saturday saw a missed penalty at a crucial stage of the game. The early part of this game saw defences in control as the teams struggled to contend with an uneven surface, Loughborough's first threat came from a Brenton Swain cross but the Old Hill keeper Dave Herrington took it cleanly. Martin McLean saw a shot deflected wide for The Luffs while at the other end Sean Hogan and keeper Paul Springthorpe cleared under pressure. Craig Shaw hit a shot destined for the goal but it was deflected wide while Brenton Swain and Steve Rudge combined well to see an effort go just past the post. Jimmy Mattin, Old Hills' new signing from Blackheath thought he'd scored with his well struck free kick from just outside the area but he reckoned without the on form Loughborough keeper Paul Springthorpe who tipped the shot over the bar. Swain was brought down in full flight on the edge of the area and Rudge's free kick was deflected wide while Old Hill put some pressure on late in the half and Hogan cleared one off the line but nil nil at half time a pretty fair reflection. Loughborough's new manager continues to bring in new faces and this weeks was defender Rob Newboult in an effort to secure his first win. The Luffs looked to have started the second half well and Rudge made a penetrating run only to be crowded out at the last minute. But it was the same old second half story as far as the Loughborough defence were concerned, that momentary lapse in concentration and they were punished as Craig Shaw headed Old Hill into the lead. Loughborough deserved to be level and should have been level as Steve Rudge powered his way into the Old Hill penalty area and was unceremoniously brought down for a penalty. But it wasn't to be as keeper Herrington got down quickly in the right direction to save Matt Kearn's penalty. The feeling that The Luffs may never a score a goal again came and went as Gareth Rogers hit a powerful shot destined for the back of the net but Herrington was there again to keep his teams lead intact. With third placed Old Hill Town looking content to preserve their one goal lead Loughborough still looked in contention, Sul Morina should have scored as Rudge set him up nicely but the pitch caused the cross to bobbled and the chance was lost. Inevitable its seems these days, a second goal against came against the run of play but credit striker Craig Shaw whose looping header gave Springthorpe little chance and doubled his tally for the afternoon. This result leaves The Luffs deep in the mire at the bottom of the table but three home games in succession might just give them something to grasp onto, the ability is there now this is not a bad Loughborough squad of players, just a bit of luck in front of goal and a bit tighter at the back and they may yet escape the drop. Ten games to go, Saturday at home to Fairfield Villa (kick off 2.45 PM) followed by Knowle at home the following Saturday, Hansaker at home the next Saturday and then Polesworth away on the Tuesday evening completes the month of March, it will be a decisive month for The Luffs TEAM:  Paul SPRINGTHORPE, Rob NEWBOULT, Sean HOGAN, Matt WATKISS, Carl SPRINGTHORPE, Matt KEARNS, Brenton SWAIN, Clayton PENNY, Steve RUDGE, Martin MCLAREN, Gareth ROGERS  SUBS:  Tom BELTON, Joe MULLIGAN, Sol MORINA SCORERS:   ATT: N/A HT: 0-0