ROB Small believes ‘everything is stacked against Bowers & Pitsea’ as they bid to secure a play-off berth in their first season in the Ryman North.

Bowers have excelled this term and currently sit sixth, two points outside the play-off positions but with a game in hand on the two sides above them.

Despite Small’s reservations, the final run-in for Bowers appears favourable, with only four of their final 13 games against sides inside the top 10 and eight of those matches at the Len Salmon Stadium.

“We’ve got 13 games left, eight at home, but our home form is worse than our away form,” said manager Small. “Everything is stacked against us really.

“We’ve got no right in our first season in the league to be competing at this end of the table. The teams around us all have players and managers that have experienced the run in together where we do not.

“This team has evolved over the season and is still in its infancy. We will fight right until the end but as a club we are relaxed about the outcome.

“In big games the best team will win, not necessarily the best players. Our priority was to stay in the division - we’ve done that.”

Bowers' next two matches - against Tilbury and Thurrock - will be played under the floodlights on Friday night.

And Small said it gives him an opportunity to scout opponents.

“It’s an initiative to attempt to inflate the crowd and raise awareness for the club,” he said. “We did the same in our home game for Thurrock and they requested we afford them the same. Following the success of that game we enquired with Tilbury and they agreed.

“It will be nice for the players to get two full weekends off and it useful for me to watch games.”