Kenilworth Wardens Reserves winning start to the season came to an end as they lost 8-0 away at Stockingford AA.

An early loss of discipline cost the Wardens, forcing them to play nearly the entire game with ten men against a Stockingford side who made the most of their man advantage.

An early bundled effort from close range, and a long range cross-come-shot gave the Nuneaton-based side a 2-0 lead early on, before the Wardens were reduced to ten and forced to abandon their game plan completely.

Goalkeeper Eddie Morris made an incredible double save from a Stockingford penalty and a diving parry from a long range effort, but could do nothing as a free header, a drilled effort from 18 yards out and a whistling effort from the angle gave Stockingford a 5-0 lead at half-time.

In the second half, Wardens manger Tom Perrin asked his side to employ a low-block 4-4-1 and show some pride, and the Kenilworth side defended well, sat low and frustrated Stockingford.

Captain Dane Watt's tireless running, Sean Povey's hold up play and debutant Matt Wright's work rate down the right hand side created a couple of half chances.

But Stockingford capitalised again, scoring three goals late in the half to give them an eight goal advantage, with two goals coming from close range headers and one drilled in from the edge of the area.

The game brought the Wardens' perfect start to the season to a bitter end, but manager Perrin was equivocal at the end of the game.

"It's so disappointing to be on the end of such a score line," he said, "but circumstances were against us from really early on today and we were forced to completely abandon how we were set up.

"If the game was 11 vs 11, I think it's a completely different story, but I can't fault the boys for their work ethic, especially in the second half. All we can do is hold our heads high, take it on the chin and go again."

Wardens Reserves are at home for the first time this season next week, as they take on Craven Athletic.