Boreham Wood boss Ian Allinson says the Wood will have to raise their game after suffering their first Conference South defeat in nine, losing 4-1 at Eastbourne Borough on Saturday.

Darren Lok scored twice for the Sports either side of stunning a Simon Johnson strike to put Borough 3-1 up before half time. Matty Whichelow got one back for Wood after the break but Nathaniel Pinney completed the scoring late on.

Speaking to the club's website, Allinson said: "I spoke to the players at length afterwards and told them this is what to expect from sides when you are top of the table. This is a tough, tough league and there are no poor sides. It was a learning curve today and we need to reach new heights and raise our game.

"At 2-0 down I felt we could re-group but the third goal on the stroke of half time killed us. That said I though we were exceptional in the second half and could easily have nicked something from it, which from three goals down is quite an achievement."

He added: "Eastbourne raised their game today and did a very good job on us. They earned the right to win this tie and made no errors for us to capitalise on all afternoon. It was a tough tough game and they took their chances well in the first half. Their fourth was exceptional and unlike us they defended well."

Eastbourne went ahead after 15 minutes when Josh Hare's delivery was met by Lok, who fired past James Russell with ease.

A second soon followed, Johnson directing a powerfully-struck 30-yard effort beyond the helpless Russell.

When it arrived on the stroke of half time, the third goal summed up Wood's calamitous afternoon. Josh Hill under-hit a back-pass to Russell which allowed Lok to steal in, round the goalkeeper and slot into the empty net to put the Sussex side in total control.

After the break, Whichelow hauled Wood back into the game with a first-time strike from 18 yards but that was as good as it got for Allinson's side.

Lewis Toomey, Lee Angol and Ricky Shakes all came close to cutting the home side's lead but were unable to find a way past goalkeeper Lewis Carey.

The hosts rounded off the scoring in the 90th minute when former Crystal Palace forward Pinney headed Hare's cross beyond the reach of Russell.

Bromley were 1-0 winners over St Albans City, which means Wood's lead over the second-placed side is cut to three points, with The Ravens having two games in hand still.

Wood host Bishop's Stortford on Boxing Day before travelling to Bath City on Sunday, December 28.