March Town United manager Chris Bartlett says his side’s 4-0 loss against Long Melford at the GER was “a bridge too far” but he hopes his players will be back to their best for the trip to Woodbridge Town on Saturday.

Saturday’s visit of Long Melford was the Hares seventh game in 21 days, including an agonising penalty shoot out defeat at King’s Lynn Town Reserves last Tuesday.

After six games, March are seventh in the Thurlow Nunn First Division, with three wins and three losses.

Bartlett said: “It was probably a bit of a bridge too far. Our squad’s not used to playing seven games in three weeks and it showed. In the warm up before the game you got sense we were leggy.

“We got exactly what we deserved. They were sharper and brighter than us. In all our previous games we could have taken something but even if we were still playing now it would have been the same result.”

Bartlett is pleased his side don’t have a mid-week game as it will give them a chance to recharge their batteries and do some work on the training ground.

He said: “It’s good to have a week off. Hopefully we can work on improving a few things and bounce back against Woodbridge.”

Fourteenth place Woodbridge Town have only picked up four points in five games but Bartlett says he will not allow his players to underestimate Saturday’s hosts.

He said: “We’ve had a pretty tough start to the season, playing teams which are all in the top nine in the league.

“But I don’t want my players to look at the table and think, just because Woodbridge are not doing so well, it’s going to be an easy game.

“If someone looked at the table they’d say we’re not doing great. We’ve won three and lost three games, scored 12 and conceded 12. We’re a long way short of where we need to be.”