Kevin Ellison proved the difference between the two sides, netting a hat-trick to overshadow Jack Midson's penalty for the visitors, who had Paul McCallum dismissed in the League Two clash at the Globe Arena.
Ardley said: "I am learning quickly how difficult this job is and we are in a dogfight as we speak. After conceding four in midweek we worked hard on the defence though you wouldn't have thought so the way we started and the ludicrous goals we gave away which you can't legislate for.
"We had a good 20 minutes or so in the second half when we put them under some pressure and when we scored we raised our game but just when we looked like we might get something from the game we gave a third away with a goal on the break.
"We will now have to roll our sleeves up and work hard in training to get things right. Thankfully we have no midweek game and we will have time to work on things.
"I am definitely learning the hard way what this managerial business is all about but we will continue to do everything we can to get it right."
