Ryman North: Barkingside 0 Heybridge 0

Barkingside boss Gursel Gulfer was encouraged by his side’s performance in a 0-0 draw at home to Heybridge Swifts which lifted them off the bottom of the Ryman North table.

Side ended a run of five straight home defeats, but were frustrated as they were made to rue missed chances as their wait goes on for their first three points of the season.

Gulfer said: “I was very happy with the performance, but in all honesty, we should have won the game.”

The stalemate was also Barkingside’s first clean sheet of the season and is a huge boost after conceding 16 times in their previous four outings.

“The first clean sheet pleased me, but I’m disappointed we didn’t take all three points. Overall I’m satisfied.” added Gulfer.

Barkingside travel to fourth place Harlow Town on Tuesday where once again they will be aiming to get that first win of the campaign.

“We are going to Harlow to get a result. We have the same 11 boys starting the game, as I felt everyone deserved their place after an encouraging performance on Saturday,” said Gulfer.

“We are slowly getting better and I’m optimistic of getting that first win in the coming weeks.

“No team in this league is easy especially as Harlow plays on an artificial pitch, but I’m not scared of any team in this league.”

Side boss Gulfer said he is looking forward getting away after playing three successive games at Cricklefield Stadium.

“Six of our next seven games are away from home and I’m looking forward to getting away,” he said.

“The players have been moaning a lot about the state of the pitch, they all want to play on carpets, but we know that isn’t possible!”

Barkingside do not have a game this weekend, having been knocked out of the FA Cup by Ipswich Wanderers, and Gulfer already has one eye on next Tuesday’s visit to bottom-of-the-table Haringey Borough.

He said: “We have no game Saturday and then face a six-pointer the following Tuesday against Haringey Borough. It’s a must-win game.”