Two single-goal defeats inside four days have seen Holbeach United fall away from the play-off pace in Division One North of the Thurlow Nunn League.
A 1-0 loss at Whittlesey Athletic last Wednesday was followed by the same scoreline at home to AFC Sudbury Reserves on Saturday as the Tigers made it three blank sheets in a row after their 3-0 FA Vase defeat to Droitwich Spa.
It left assistant manager Mark Greenacre welcoming a free midweek.
He said: “It’s been an intense period with so many fixtures, which means we haven’t been able to have meaningful training sessions as we’ve bounced from game to game.
“We now have a less intense fixture schedule and can spend more time on the training pitch, allowing us to work on improving our fortunes.
“It also hopefully allows the boys to recharge properly and give us more energy, effort and enthusiasm.
“We believe in the lads, this young, talented group can turn this around.”
Kieran Hibbins got the only goal of Wednesday’s match after 67 minutes before Holbeach were reduced to 10 men when substitute Harry West was sent off after picking up a second yellow card.
It was a similar story on Saturday when Sudbury’s Jed Jackson struck five minutes after the break to claim all the points, with Ben Greenacre sent off for the hosts.
The Tigers sit in 10th place, six points away from Framlingham, who currently occupy the last play-off berth.
However, they will be confident going into Saturday’s home match against Needham Market Reserves, who they beat 3-0 on the season’s opening day in Suffolk.
Tigers v Whittlesey: Simpson, Yambasu, Greenacre, Ling, Oldham, Carter, Compton, Roberts, Keeble, Thorne, Cook. Subs: West, Ibeneme.
Attendance: 95.
Tigers v Sudbury: Simpson, Greenacre, Lee, Oldham, Ling, Carter, Yambasu, Roberts, Compton, Thorne, Cook. Subs: West, Keeble, Millinson, Ibeneme.
Attendance: 76.
