Players out on their feet following defeat to table-toppers

Barkingside manager Matt Frew could see it in his players eyes in his post-match team-talk – they had given everything in the defeat to Needham Market.

Side had just lost their unbeaten home record at Cricklefield with the 1-0 reverse last night (Monday), but the manager could not have asked for more.

“The boys were totally empty – drained, they had given me everything,” he said. “Strangely, in some ways, it felt like a win as we’d done so well against the team that went top of the table by defeating us.

“It shows just how far we have come that it took a deflected goal and a magnificent save by their keeper to beat us.

“I think that if we show the same spirit, we are a match for any team in the league.

Side were forced to make changes due to injuries, but the boss was happy with his replacements. “I had six players out injured, so had to make changes to the line-up,” said Frew. “But the boys who came in played their part, and with the rub of the green, it could have been a different result.”

“It was a first defeat at our new home, but I can still take a lot of positives form the performance.

“The boys were out on their feet and as a manager, I can’t ask for more than that.”

Side play at Waltham Abbey in the FA Cup on Saturday and then in the league the following Tuesday but Frew said: “We’ll regroup, train on Thursday and be ready to go again come the weekend.”