Passionate Holbeach United skipper Jamie Clarke has issued a rallying cry to his flagging team-mates after the Tigers slumped to a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Desborough Town on Tuesday night.
Second-half strikes from Liam Boath (55) and Luke Cummins (72) did the business for mid-table hosts Desborough at Waterworks Field, rendering a late effort from Jordan Drury – who poached Lee Beeson’s corner on the line (80) – as mere consolation.
Clarke, along with coach Jay Harrison, was in caretaker charge of Holbeach on the night – with boss John Chand unable to attend due to work commitments.
The loss leaves the Tigers in fifth place, some eight points behind second-placed Wisbech Town with a game in hand – and 12 points off UCL Premier Division leaders AFC Rushden and Diamonds having played two games less.
Holbeach haven’t won since Graham Drury’s resignation as co-boss almost two weeks ago, dropping seven points from three very winnable games against Boston Town, Kempston Rovers and now Desborough.
Drury’s exit did trigger something of a mini-exodus at Carter’s Park, with key men Danny Spencer, Jake Duffy and Lee Dube – who joined either Grantham Town on Wednesday morning – all leaving.
Striker Clarke admits that he’s devastated to see the Tigers’ season slowly crumble before his eyes – but has vowed to do his utmost to turn things around… even if it means ruffling the feathers of his team-mates.
He said: “It really saddens me to see all of the good work we’ve done as a team this season dying.
“I think the commitment is slipping a little from the lads – and it’s so disappointing for me to see.
“I love this football club. I came here as an experienced player that had played for a lot of teams, but the people here really took to me and made me feel welcome. That means a lot to me.
“It’s a lovely family club and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to help turn things around. I just want the other guys to feel that same pride and desire.
“The last two games (Kempston and Desborough) haven’t been good enough. Standards have slipped and I’m not seeing that character in the dressing room.
“I appreciate that players have left after Graham quit – and I also appreciate that the FA Vase dream has gone.
“But we need to dust ourselves down and make sure everything we’ve played for this season doesn’t fade away.
“Credit to Desborough, but we should have enough about us to go there and get a win. We had a lot of injuries and unavailability, but I want to see more from the lads.”
Indeed, Holbeach’s side on Tuesday was almost unrecognisable to the last one picked by Drury, with reserve team players Jordan Keeble, Cymon Lambe and Glen Wells all handed starts.
Clarke hopes that the injured Danny Steadman, Matt Warfield, Stacy Cartwright and Jake Gibson will all return for Saturday’s UCL KO Cup quarter-final clash with Division One outfit Potton United on Saturday (3pm).
But he admits that another poor performance will effectively signify the end of their bid for silverware.
“If we have the same attitude as on Tuesday, we’ll lose every game we play between now and the end of the season,” added the striker, who celebrates his birthday on Saturday. “We need to sort ourselves out.
“I want to win a trophy for all of the people that make this club great – and as it stands, the cup now looks our best shot.”
Tigers: Conroy, Kirby, Wells, Brown, Parker, Beeson, Lambe (Drury), King, Keeble, Tidswell, Clarke.
