Kimandi Binns' quest for a maiden win over arch rivals Pocomoke High School continues after watching his Mardela Warriors stumble yet again against their nemesis in the quarter finals of the regional play-offs.

Reigning State Champions Pocomoke prevailed 4-2 over the Warriors - coached by Bermudian Binns - who ultimately paid the price for some "sloppy" football.

The Warriors trailed 3-0 after only 18 minutes but rallied to shave the deficit to one after the break before eventually going down fighting.

"We got off to the worst possible start by conceding a goal after eight minutes. So from the get go we were behind the eight ball," former North Village defender Binns said.

"We continued to play sloppy because of the wet rainy, windy conditions and before we knew it we were down 3-0."

Mardela eventually dragged themselves back in the match when forward Byron Curtis slammed his effort into the roof of the net to capitalise on a through ball.

The Warriors altered tactics after the break which seemed to do the trick as midfielder Evan Keplinger scored a "wonderful" wind-assisted free kick from 30 yards to cut Pocomoke's lead to one.

"At half -time I stressed to the boys that we could not play that possession game due to the windy conditions and the wet slippery field.

"I told them to play more direct and more diagonal balls," Binns explained.

Mardela had a golden opportunity to draw level when they were awarded a penalty for a handball in the box. Team skipper Jordan Bebee, however, made a complete mess of his spot kick which the 'keeper easily saved, diving to his left.

It proved to be a costly miss as Pocomoke put the match beyond their opponent's reach after converting on a set piece on the ensuing passage of play.

In four years on the job Bermudian Binns has yet to chalk up a win against a Pocomoke team that edged the Warriors 2-1 in last year's regional final.

"I am still unable to clear that final hurdle. Four years and I am yet to defeat Pocomoke," he lamented.

Binns admitted the missed penalty proved to be the defining moment in his team's bitter defeat.

"The turning point in the game was the missed penalty kick. If we would have made that kick we would have had all the momentum; Pocomoke would have been rattled to give up a 3-0 lead," he added.

The former Village footballer praised his team for the manner in which they fought back after trailing 3-0 in the early stages of the match.

"I never imagined we would be three behind after 18 minutes, but the boys never gave up," Binns added. "It is almost an impossible task to come back from three down in a quarter final match against the champs in their back yard.

"I was extremely disappointed as well as frustrated. But the good thing about sports is that there is always next year."