Richard Wilkins is looking to take as many positives as he can from Needham Market’s heartbreaking 4-5 defeat at Tonbridge Angels on Saturday.

The Bloomfields club face two crucial home games in a week against teams in the bottom half of the Bostik Premier table – starting this evening when Harlow visit.

Next Tuesday it’s Burgess Hill at Bloomfields in another league clash.

Still hurting from Saturday’s humdinger of a game in Kent, where Needham fought back from 4-2 down to 4-4 before losing in the final minute, Wilkins is remaining positive, even though his side are in the bottom three.

“Saturday was tough to take,” Wilkins said.

“We played so much good football and created a lot of chances. There were far more positives than negatives, that’s for sure.

“I can’t question the players’ commitment. I can’t question their honesty. We are just not getting the rub of the green right now, something we were getting last season.

“When your luck is not with you, it’s not with you.”

The late call-off of injured centre-half Keiran Morphew was a big blow to Needham on Saturday.

Wilkins is hoping the influential player is back for tonight’s clash with Harlow, who are one place below Needham in the table and have only picked up one point out of a possible 24 on the road this campaign.

“We missed Keiran,” Wilkins said.

“It was a late call-off as well which meant a bit of re-shuffling.

“Hopefully he will be back against Harlow. We are working hard to get him fit.

“It’s a big week ahead with these two midweek games and we need six points. We are in the bottom three and we need to start winning.

“A couple of wins will take you mid-table and I have plenty of confidence in this squad.”

In the Thurlow Nunn Premier tonight, Hadleigh will look to build on their win at Ipswich Wanderers on Saturday as they travel to Brantham, while Coggeshall will go second if they win at Haverhill Rovers after the Essex side’s fine victory at Stowmarket Town at the weekend.

Thetford entertain Gorleston.