12:53pm Wednesday 3rd March 2010
WALTHAM Forest’s Ryman League Division One North play-off hopes look all but over after two defeats this week.
And assistant boss Terry Malins is calling for an improvement ahead of two home games in the coming seven days.
Forest went down 2-0 at promotion-chasing Wingate & Finchley on Saturday, before losing 2-1 at Northwood, another side with play-off aspirations, on Tuesday.
“I don’t think we’ve beaten any of the teams in the five play-off positions, and you need to do that to challenge,” Malins told the Guardian Series.
“It will be hard for us to get into the play-offs unless we go unbeaten for six or seven games. But that’s not to say we will not make it.
“There’s always one team who emerges from the pack and makes a late entry. There’s still a lot of points available, so why not us?”
Last weekend, Chris Chase struck twice for Wingate & Finchley to consign Forest to defeat.
Malins added: “We didn’t create enough chances. They were 10 unbeaten and we needed a goal, but we struggled. We made two mistakes which cost us two goals.
“Unfortunately, the players who play well one week do not do so the next week.”
Ex-Barcelona defender Samuel Okunowo is back training with the squad, in the livery of his prestigious former employers.
Forest host Heybridge Swifts, another play-off-chasing side, on Saturday, before entertaining Maldon Town on Wednesday.
Elsewhere in Division One North, the relegation clash between Leyton and Redbridge was postponed on Saturday.
However, Leyton were in action on Tuesday, when they not surprisingly went down 1-0 at home to promotion-chasing Thamesmead Town.
Now boss Malcolm Dannie is preparing for the visit of Cheshunt on Saturday. Then Redbridge are in town on Tuesday.
They are two big games for Leyton, who will fancy their chances against two sides who, like them, are struggling at the wrong end of the table.
Meanwhile, Waltham Abbey have had a frustrating week.
They remain bottom of the Premier League after seeing their home clash with Horsham postponed. That game is now due to take place this evening (March 4).
Victory would lift the Abbotts off the bottom of the table.
They have another important game this Saturday, when they make the trip to second-bottom Margate. They then host Essex side Aveley on Tuesday.
Off the pitch, the Abbotts have been buoyed by receiving the award for performance of the month, from Vandanel.
It was for when Abbey overturned a 2-0 deficit against Wealdstone to run out 4-2 winners, in February. Boss Greg Alzapiedi will want the same spirit this evening.
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