Macclesfield director of rugby Geoff Wappett described his side’s defeat at home to Jersey as doubly disappointing, as the visitors’ late score denied the Blues the consolation of a losing bonus point.

With a try three minutes from time, the Channel Islanders took all the spoils, leaving Wappett feeling hard done by.

"It’s doubly disappointing that we didn’t win first of all," he said. "But also that that late converted try meant we got nothing at all, and I think we deserved some reward from the game.

"Jersey were very good all round, busy off the ball and very good all over the field, they’re pro-active and made it very hard for us. I think from what we’ve seen they’re the best equipped team in this league and probably only Jersey and (league leaders) Ealing are equipped to play at Championship level.

"They have an oustanding Saxons winger, experienced and in very good shape, just the sort of player anyone in this division would like to have. He’s way out of our price bracket though."

After a fine start to the League One campaign, Macclesfield reach the halfway mark in mid-table, and ahead of their trip to Cinderford on Saturday, their coach added: "We have to be on the top of our game, if all the facters that make us strong are in place then we’ve got a chance.

"Some teams can have a few playing on an off-day but we can’t afford that, we have to be on the top of our game.

"We play some good stuff and look really good at times but our expectations have risen and then we were brought back down to Earth.

"We’ve not had that many disappointing performances this season, although we could – and should – have done better against Birmingham and Solihull and against Tynedale.

"But then we work on an entirely different budget to the likes of Jersey, who have a prop, Ben Evans, who has about 25 caps for Wales.

"They’ve got the wherewithal to bring in quality whereas all we need is a wealthy benefactor and about 2,000 more through the gates."