Girdler's men can't feel the benefits of a week's break

It leaves Adie Girdler’s side sixth in the table and nine points off the league leaders.

Joe Briggs got the away side’s goal five minutes into the second half after the home side had gone ahead thanks to Adam Mitchell in the sixth minute.

One of the teams level on points with City are Crowborough, who visit Oaklands Way on Saturday.

Girdler said: “It was a fair result and we did well to get a draw in the end because we didn’t play very well – it’s probably the worst we’ve played since I’ve been back.

“A few were under-par. We lost a bit of mojo somewhere – we haven’t been able to train where we’ve had such bad weather. That’s not helped.

“I thought we’d come out firing. We had Callum Cutler back who’d been out for a month and we had to put him back in because we had James Searle missing.

“We were running on a bit of a small squad. I made a few changes and brought on some kids from the youth team who’ve done quite well for us – so that was pleasing.

“The pleasing bit was we showed character, stuck at it and got the goal back. We had a couple of opportunities but didn’t take them.

“We defended well. Rowan Wallace played well at the back, and young Cody Connor did well when he came on. He’s only 16.”

Girdler praised scorer Briggs and goalkeeper Ben Hitchman, but was left rueing the two-week break that saw his side lose momentum.

He said: “On a bit of a heavy pitch we got caught out – but it’s a point and now we’ve got a big game against Crowborough on Saturday.

“They’re three games in front and if we can now get on a run of games, that’s going to get us right in there.

“It’s not over yet – those teams at the top will start taking points off each other soon, and hopefully we’ll catch Pagham – that’s our first target.

“Obviously every game you go into you want to win. We’ve got good players for the heavy conditions and we’re a good footballing side.”

Girdler (pictured below) will have Searle to call on for the Crowborough game.

But Tom Broadbent will serve the last game of his suspension, while Adrian Brockway is still two to three weeks from returning from his injury.

City play two home games in a week now – East Grinstead visit next Tuesday in the Sussex Senior Cup.

MARK ALLAWAY