Mel Mattless calls for calm after suffering heaviest defeat of his March Town tenure

Mel Mattless has urged his young March Town players not to dwell on the heaviest defeat of his reign.

The Hares crashed to a 5-0 reverse at high-flying Stowmarket Town in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division last Saturday.

Mattless’ men held out until a couple of minutes before half-time, and then conceded again early in the second half. Further goals followed at regular intervals as the hosts dominated.

“Stowmarket just overpowered us, if I’m being honest,” said Mattless. “We were hardly ever in the game.

“It was backs to the wall stuff and I’ll be amazed if they don’t go on to win the league.

“We’ve drawn with the leaders, Coggeshall, and beaten Diss in recent weeks, but Stowmarket were far superior to those two teams in my opinion.

“We have to put it down to a learning experience for our young lads and move on.

“I have always said there will be good and bad days with such a youthful group of players, and this was one of the bad ones.”

March were without skipper Max Mattless due to suspension at Stowmarket and the influential central defender completes a two-game ban tomorrow when the Hares continue a run of fixtures against leading First Division teams.

Fifth-placed Woodbridge is their destination and another stern test is likely for a March side also set to be without full-back Jamie Muffett (hamstring) and winger Archie Murfitt (groin).

“We’ll go again,” added boss Mattless. “We kept two successive clean sheets ahead of the Stowmarket defeat and the challenge is to try to tighten up defensively again.

“We’ve got some important players out, but we’ll give it our best shot and see what we can get out of the game.”