DEFEAT last weekend killed the promotion dream at Capershotts, fears the manager of Abbey FC.

That was Paul Wickenden’s glum conclusion ahead of this Saturday’s trip to take on Ryman one strugglers, Tilbury.

Last weekend, Waltham Abbey slipped to a disheartening 2-0 defeat at home to AFC Sudbury.

“I think the play-offs have gone now,” Wickenden told Guardian Series Sport.

“We were very much an outsider in the chase and losing to Sudbury was the last straw. It was disappointing.

“But we’ve exceeded our expectations so far this season,” he rallied.

“We all have a belief to finish as high up the league as we can. The target now is a top 10 finish.”