The gaffer had no complaints as he suffered his first defeat as AFC manager.
The Bulls were comfortably beaten 3-0 by Cleethorpes, who could have easily scored five or six on a different day.
"Cleethorpes are a good outfit. They put us on the back foot, we struggled to get out in the first half due to the weather, Ward said after the game.
"There were a couple of phases where we created the odd half-chance, but we also rode our luck a little bit.
"It's a difficult one to take since we've been playing so well, but that's football.
"They're a mid-table to top side, so if we want to compete with those sorts of teams then we need to have a more consistent performance."
Ahead of another tough game - this time a trip to seventh-placed Belper Town - the Bulls face a midweek Notts Senior Cup quarter-final at Carlton Town, which the gaffer sees as a good opportunity to experiment with his squad.
"Hopefully I can create a bit more competition for (first team) places. Pat Lindley's coming back into the side, so it gives me a few more options."
Fans can watch the full post-match interview on Bulls TV.