Spencer Collins admits losing striker Martin Grant to local rivals Walton & Hersham is a bitter pill to swallow as the Stags face up to a Ryman League Division One South relegation battle.

In a surprise Monday development, 19-goal striker Grant departed the Waterside to join the Swans play-off surge.

And, despite his obvious disappointment, Collins insisted he could not stand in Grant’s way.

He said: “To be perfectly honest, we have probably done well to keep him for as long as we have.

“There have been quite a few clubs hovering around so it is not something that has come out of the blue.

“Walton & Hersham have offered him a deal that we simply could not match.

“But I have no problem with Martin - he is a great kid and I respect his decision.

“Of course it is a blow for us but I wish him all the best.”

The transfer shock came on the back of a 3-1 defeat at Dulwich Hamlet.

All the goals for Dulwich came in the first half and, with Walton just six points above the drop zone, Collins has demanded an improvement.

He said: “The concentration levels are just not good enough.

“We seem to be giving away cheap goals and, in the past three games, we have been two or three goals down by half-time.

“We have a young back four and they have to learn quickly.

“We will be working hard in training and I expect to see an improvement going forward.”

The pressure is now likely to intensify on Michael Barima, after his weekend goal made it five goals in four games for the striker.

Collins added: “We know Michael is always likely to get us a couple of goals.

“He is a very good striker and we are lucky to have him.

“We are creating chances and scoring goals – we just need to sort things out at the other end of the pitch.”

Walton Casuals’ next three matches: Feb 6 Folkestone (h), 10 Eastbourne Town (a), 13 Ramsgate (a).