Try doing a comp stomp online. This will let you get your feet wet and understand the play of multi without getting face-palmed.

One benefit of playing against the good players is that you can watch replays of the game and watch what they do afterwards, which might be a good way to improve your skill by reverse-engineering their strategies.

Anyway, it's hard to break into the online multiplayer game now-a-days though there are still new players out there.  I applaud you for coming online.  You just have to take your noobie lumps and be patient and take pleasure in your continued improvement and competitiveness.

In team games you need to keep in mind that even though you personally might get beat up on, your team might be winning and you need to try to do whatever you can to help your TEAM.  Sadly, many people don't understand that and sometimes cost their teams the game by quitting or surrendering before it's been decided.  So you have to ask yourself, "what can I do to help my team?"  I remember an early game I played where I stated out sandwiched between opponents in a 4v4 and all I had was a Vasari Evacuator mothership cap.  I moved it across the map, colonized, and then later used my capital ships to help bomb opponents.  It was great fun and my team won it in an epic game.

Just one note.  You might find more new playes in regular Sins than Entrenchment.