We can get this job done – Langton’s message from Eastbourne Borough’s relegation fight
We can get this job done. The words of Eastbourne Borough assistant manager Hugo Langton after the Sports’ winless run continued with a 1-1 draw at home to Enfield Town.
The Sports claimed just a single point from the 18 available in January - and they now face a formidable, and frankly improbable, battle to stay up. But they are certainly not throwing in the towel.
Tomorrow (Saturday) Borough head to Chesham United, relative newcomers to National South, and nicknamed the Generals - with a quite regimented playing style to match.
The Buckinghamshire club, who are within reach of the play-off places, have actually scored fewer goals this season than Borough. Not that Tommy Widdrington ever chooses to set up with a dogged defensive plan - but he would probably take a point from a goalless draw.
The team performance last Saturday against Enfield was encouraging: the Sports took an early lead through impressive new signing Adam May. But - not for the first time - they failed to turn attacking play into goals and had to settle for a 1-1 draw.
Assistant manager Langton summed it up: "We are obviously a little bit disappointed. Once we scored the first goal, the shackles were off and we kept up te attacking pattern.
"Gold (Omotayo) has hit the bar and we've had another disallowed for marginal offside, and Adam had that brilliant effort from distance saved. Eighty per cent of this league is having to defend your box - long throws, free kicks, dead ball situations, crosses. We work on that all the time,
"But one lapse, one moment, and that Enfield goal has changed the game. So we're feeling frustrated by it. Enfield will say they earned their point, but it was only in the last ten minutes that they threatened. And otherwise, for most of the afternoon, it was a basketball game.
"I'm a glass-half-full kind of guy, not half-empty, and this was a step in the right direction. We've ended the losing run, we'd have wished for three points but we will take the one, and go forward.
"It is actually good to go into the changing room after a match like that, and see the players a little bit frustrated (that they did not win) because it shows they are evaluating for themselves - what could we have done, what can we do better?
"The lads - and without undervaluing them - they are here at this club for a reason. They are not Premier League players, they are still learning all the time, they are improving. On another day, we win that game, and we as staff are evaluating all the time. We can get this job done!"
Away from the league campaign, Eastbourne Borough have at least one Sussex Transport Senior Cup tie outstanding, with Horsham YM.
The County League club called off their quarter-final tie against the Sports on Tuesday afternoon. Confirmation of a new date is still awaited - though there is talk it will now be switched to Priory Lane after two call-offs at Gorings Mead.
The victors then are due to face Brighton and Hove Albion Under-21s in the semi-final.
But while an Amex Final would make a tempting finale to Borough's quite surreal season, Widdrington's squad have other priorities before then.