HEYBRIDGE Swifts boss Jody Brown praised his side for their defensive steel in Saturday’s 0-0 draw at AFC Hornchurch.

It was their second consecutive clean sheet, having won 1-0 at Halstead Town in the Essex Senior Cup last Tuesday.

Ironically, those two shut-outs came on the back of a 5-0 defeat against Thurrock, in the Ryman League.

And Brown has saluted his players for the way they have stood up to the challenge and responded to that bruising setback.

“It wasn’t a fair reflection when we lost 5-0 against Thurrock,” he said.

“We weren’t great, but we had chances and the score flattered them.

“However, our defending wasn’t good enough and it set alarm bells ringing.

“We came away knowing we needed to be more organised and disciplined and keep our shape better, to stop giving away such soft goals.

“Thankfully, the boys responded with back-to-back clean sheets and we kept Hornchurch very quiet for 85 minutes.

“It was very much a backs-to-the-wall effort for the last 20 minutes (there were 15 minutes of added-on time following a serious injury suffered by Swifts’ Simon Glover).

“The boys stood up to the challenge, though, and it was really pleasing to keep another clean sheet.

“Now we need to keep that mentality of being hard to break down and beat.”

Saturday’s draw left Swifts second-from-bottom in the division north table, five points clear of basement boys Wroxham, heading into tonight’s match at Ware.

But Brown insists his players are better than their current standing suggests.

“We don’t like our league position,” he said.

“I can’t say it’s an unfair one but I know we’re a better team than that.

“It wasn’t a fluke when we pushed Bury all the way, or beat Cheshunt when they were top of the table or drew with Brightlingsea.

“I could go on and on.

“The point is that we’re not a bad team. I know that and four or five of our draws could have been wins.”

Swifts host Essex rivals Witham Town on Saturday before visiting high-flying Bury Town next Tuesday.

Tonight’s opponents, Ware, are currently 16th.

Neither leaders MALDON AND TIPTREE or WITHAM are in action tonight.