Needham Market, still reeling after a 6-0 thrashing at Billericay Town on Wednesday night, will look to bounce back at another formidable hosts in Dulwich Hamlet tomorrow afternoon.

The Marketmen remain second in the table, three points behind Ryman Premier leaders Bognor Regis Town, but they have a tricky run of fixtures to negotiate.

After tomorrow’s visit to Champion Hill, to take on a Dulwich side who beat Braintree Town 5-2 in the FA Trophy recently, Mark Morsley’s men entertain leaders Bognor Regis next Saturday, and then travel to fourth-placed Tonrbidge Angels the following weekend.

“There should be a great atmosphere at Dulwich,” insisted Morsley.

“They are a good side, having beaten Braintree in the FA Trophy, and they regularly play in front of crowds of 1,500 or 1,600 people.

“But they are a footballing side, which will be very different to Billericay, who were very direct.

“It’s a superb pitch, and a great atmosphere, it’s one of the fixtures you really look forward to at the start of the season, and I think we can give them a good game.”

Looking back to the midweek rout at Billericay, Morsley admitted that his young side were well off the pace.

He said: “Unfortunately, where it’s been a bit disappointing is in the four games against strong opposition, the two games against Leiston, Harlow away and now Billericay, where we have really had to stand up and be counted, but we’ve found to be a bit short.

“We were lucky to get away with just six goals at Billericay, (Keeper) Danny Gay has pulled off three or four great saves, and they also missed a couple of sitters in the second half.

“It just goes to show that there is a bit to do.

“But we’ve had a fantastic season, and there is still more to go. At the moment, we know that we don’t have the personnel to deal with this sort of pressure at the top.

“But we are still up there, and the one thing we have done as a team is whenever we have one of these bad days, we have always managed to go on a good run after a defeat.

“Our goal difference looks poor, because we have had some big defeats, but we are still scoring goals, despite not looking like it at Billericay.”