If anything, the Hurst Cross co-manager was in an analytical frame of mind, weighing up his side's performances in the first third of the Evo-stik Northern Premier League season.
"We did all right but we should have won at their place. The fact we didn't still disappoints me. But yes, we deserved to win," he commented.
"I wouldn't go so far as to say we're turning things round but I definitely believe we're playing better football than we did last year. It's just taking time to get back to where we were in the spring and that's down to three things: losing in the play-off final, injuries and not enough luck.
"It's a frustrating time, but there's more to come from us and another win could push us up towards the top five. I suppose you could say we're reacclimatising."
Phillips and his partner Steve Halford have brought in two players in recent weeks, both of them defenders.
Mike Aspin has been signed from Salford City while the much-travelled Robbie Williams is on a month's loan from Barrow. He lists TNS, Altrincham, Hyde and Telford among his previous clubs.
Ashton again face high-flying opposition on Saturday when they visit second-placed Buxton in the first qualifying round of the FA Trophy.
Phillips said: "When you think about the quality of the opposition we're having to face in the cups we must have run over a black cat.
"We'll definitely have a go at them. In the league we were beating them 1-0 but as in so many of our games this season we failed to finish the job.
"Silverlands is always a tough place to visit and I'm sure Martin McIntosh will have Buxton fired up. But we've only lost one in the last five so we'll be going there full of confidence."