BOWERS & Pitsea boss Rob Small admitted his side are beginning to feel the impact of absent players after they went down 1-0 against Maldon & Tiptree on Tuesday.

A first-half strike from former Great Wakering Rovers striker Liam Nash was the difference between the sides, with Small bemoaning his lack of options up front.

Lewis Manor was absent after picking up an injury in Saturday’s FA Trophy win at Thurrock while Shomari Barnwell didn’t play at the request of Cambridge United, with the League Two club closing in on his signature.

And Small said his side struggled, albeit against a good opponent.

“I am really pleased with the overall performance,” he said. “We lacked a bit of a cutting edge up front but other than that we were great.

“Cambridge asked that Shomari didn’t play and we were without Lewis too.

“Injuries and unavailability may be catching up with us slightly with seven senior player out at the moment (Martyn Guest, Vinny Durrant, Aaron Waters, Jamie Salmon, Tom Hine, Barnwell and Manor) were all out.

“That said I felt we deserved something from this game but it wasn’t to be. Maldon will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season and they knew they had been in a game last night. Well done to them for the win.”

Luke Wilson, Scott Pethers and Brad Warner all came close to drawing parity for Bowers after Nash had put Maldon ahead after 18 minutes with a fine free-kick.

But the goal was not forthcoming as Bowers drop to seventh in the Ryman North standings.

Great Wakering were also narrowly beaten as their late fight-back at Brightlingsea Regent proved to be in vain.

There was just one goal in the first-half and it came very early. Shamido Pendulu scored after just six minutes to put Regent in charge.

The second goal didn’t come until the hour mark, but it was worth the wait as Matt Cripps hit a thunderbolt from range into the net.

Wakering were not giving up though and Tommy Spillane pulled a goal back inside the final 10 minutes.

But it remained 2-1 with Wakering ending the evening in 17th position.