STANWAY ROVERS boss Kem Izzet wants his players to dust themselves down and get their quest for a top-five finish back on track.

Rovers suffered a rare Thurlow Nunn League defeat at Gorleston on Saturday, conceding two late goals and succumbing 2-1.

Nine matches had passed since their previous setback – a 4-0 defeat at home to Stowmarket Town on December 23.

Now Izzet has challenged his players to get back on the horse and put things right in tonight’s eye-catching fixture at Godmanchester Rovers.

Stanway are seventh in the table – one place and three points behind their Bearscroft Lane hosts.

“We were so disappointed to concede two late goals on Saturday,” said the Colchester United legend.

“We’d got ourselves into a decent position but should have been further ahead at half-time.

“Missed chances came back to haunt us and, because of the strong wind, it really was a game of two halves.

“Gorleston got one back and then their tails were up.

“Now we’ve got to dust ourselves down and put in a performance that warrants three points tonight.

“When we turn up and are on our game, we’re a match for anyone.

“But if two or three players go missing and we don’t do ourselves justice, we know we’ll always struggle.

“We have to be at our best at all times and that’s the reality.

“We know the importance of tonight’s game and when we’ve had disappointments this season, we’ve tended to bounce back and respond well.

“However, we know it’s going to be a tough test.

"Godmanchester will be direct, physical and get balls into the box as quickly as possible.

“We have to stand up to that and try and impose our game on them, hopefully having learned some lessons from Saturday.”

Izzet admits his side are sailing “unchartered water”, because of the inexperience within the squad.

He knows this is a transitional season but wants the players to keep challenging until the end.

“This season is such a learning curve – for me and the players,” he said.

“We’ve got 19 signed on but I reckon only four or five of them have played 30-plus games of men’s football.

“That means the majority are sailing unchartered waters and that’s why this season was always going to be a challenge.

“But we’re learning and growing all the time, with a view to having a really good push next year.

“That said, there’s still plenty to play for this year and the last thing I want is for things to fizzle out.

“We have to keep pushing and pushing.”

Elsewhere tonight, WIVENHOE TOWN and FC CLACTON are set to meet in a Tolleshunt D’Arcy Memorial Cup semi-final at the GMP Plant Hire Stadium.