Barkingside can move out of drop zone with Brightlingsea victory

Barkingside player-manager Matt Frew intends to name the same matchday squad for the second match in succession against Brightlingsea Regent.

Side ended a run of eight straight defeats with a win against Aveley at the weekend, a match that saw Frew play for the first time in three years.

The defender has confidence in that team to record a repeat result again tonight, even if he is taking time to recover himself.

“There’ll be no changes to the 16 from the Aveley game. The only issue is how I feel. I had three rub-downs and an ice-bath on Saturday and I spent Sunday in leggings keeping things compressed,” said Frew.

“If I don’t feel right, I won’t start. The younger you are, the quicker you recover. The players want me to play and it would be wrong to turn my back on them.

“Brightlingsea will be a lot harder than Aveley. They’re a good side in good form pushing for the play-offs. We meed to work as hard as we did against Aveley.”

When the sides last met in October they played out a 0-0 draw at North Road and the R’s enter the game having lost just twice in their last seven fixtures.

Frew insits if his players are to get anything against Brightlingsea they must be in the right frame of mind.

“I believe in the players but it’s a case of whether or not they want it, They showed that mentality against Aveley,” he added.

“It’s down to the individuals. They didn’t have the right mentality against Romford but they did against Aveley. It’s been a weird week.”