March Town United battled hard but lost 2-0 at high-flying Swaffham Town on Saturday in their first game of 2014.

Crosbie missed the game because of a family bereavement so his assistants Bob Warby and Paul Blanchflower took charge.

The report back from the game was encouraging, Crosbie said.

He said: “The feedback I’ve got is that we were unlucky and should have had a penalty.

“We were worthy of a point but we conceded two goals from silly mistakes, once again shooting ourselves in the foot.”

One player who impressed on the day was debutant stand-in keeper Chris Laming, who is deputising for the injured Max Flintoff.

It is hoped Flintoff, who injured his knee against Debenham LC on December 21, will be back in action within a month.

Crosbie said: “Chris Laming joined us following a recommendation from Bob Warby, who knows him from Lincolnshire.

“He agreed to step in and it sounds like he played very well.

“Max Flintoff is off crutches and working with the physio. We hope he will be back within four weeks but we are determined not to rush him back.

“We will not risk him until we know his knee is strong enough to play.”

Crosbie says March have nothing to fear when they travel to mid-table Team Bury on Saturday.

The Hares lost 1-0 when the two sides met in a game at the GER in September which Crosbie called “diabolical”.

He is confident his side, which is languishing in 16th in the Thurlow Nunn First Division, will enjoy a more satisfying afternoon this time round.

He said: “The game earlier this season was very frustrating. We played poorly and they had one opportunity and took it.

“It was a diabolical game. But, I believe we have a good team and we will go there, weather permitting, and give a good account of ourselves.

“If we do that, we’ll get a good result.

“We don’t fear Team Bury, in fact, we don’t fear any team in this league. The only team we sometimes fear is ourselves because we shoot ourselves in the foot.”