Two wins needed to guarantee play-offs ; Football

"We're not panicking but these two latest defeats have madeeveryone sit up and realise that you can't be complacent and no sideis automatically guaranteed a play-off place once you've climbed tothird spot in the league.

"We've taken our foot off the pedal and the players have not beenworking as hard as they were and that has to change immediatelybecause a side like Romford will not need any BRENTWOOD Town'spromotion play-off dreams are hanging by a thread after twosuccessive shock defeats have left them needing two wins from theirlast four games to make the Ryman League Division One North play-offs. "We've taken our eye off the ball and become too complacentincluding myself," declared manager Steve Witherspoon yesterday(Tuesday).

"Most of the players have played in the last two matches as ifwe're home and dry for the play-offs, but we're not and it's been awake-up call for everyone this past week."

Town lost to play-off rivals Maldon & Tiptree FC 2-1 on Saturdaywhich follows their surprise 2-0 defeat against lowly Iford theprevious week and this Saturday they go to another promotioncontender, local rivals Romford.

"That's going to be the crunch game and another cup final make nomistake and one which we have to win," explained Witherspoon whowill have a fully fit squad available for the clash.

"We've four games left and we need at least two wins to secure aplay-off place.

"The following Saturday we're away to league leaders EastThurrock United. It doesn't get any harder than that.

Harder "We've this midweek clear of games to concentrate onhaving two good training sessions and getting back to what we aregood at and why we had such good run since the turn of the year toput us into the playoffs.

encouragement to come at us and try and take control of thegame."

Witherspoon was disappointed with his side's 2-1 home defat onSaturday saying: "We gave away an unfortunate freak goal in thefirst few seconds, did well to come back into the game and equaliseand we did quite well in the first half although they re-took thelead just before half time.

"But in the second half we didn't have that cutting edge and thatextra determination to put things right.

"Maldon then had two players sent off so they packed theirdefence with two rows of four and defended deep to keep their lead.

"We couldn't break them down and in reality we didn't deserve towin the game.

"So it's up to us to get our act together again and make sure webeat Romford on Saturday and get the points we need." BGA-EO1-S2