FOOTBALL

Waltham Abbey 0
Bury Town 2
(Ryman one North) WALTHAM Abbey skipper Lee White has warned his team mates that they are playing for their places next season after this latest defeat.

Abbots made it five games without a win or goal following a home loss to Bury Town on Saturday.

And, although relegation is a long shot - they are 12 points above the bottom two - safety is still not mathematically guaranteed.

White said: "There is still a lot to play for - for the club and individuals.

"Every player has got to prove they still warrant a place here.

"Just because we haven't had a big squad this year, no-one deserves the right to play.

"We'd like to think we're safe but it isn't guaranteed.

"It only takes one club below us to string some wins together and we're right in it."

Abbots are the lowest scorers in the league and White admitted that it is an area that the club are keen to address.

"It is a problem," he observed. "As much as you like to keep clean sheets, if you don't score goals you don't win games.

"I think it's a combination of confidence and players going in and out of the side."

Two mistakes by keeper John Hickman was enough to gift Bury the win.

In the fourth minute, he slipped to allow Steve Bugg a clear run at goal for the opener.

And, on 78 minutes, he collided with Liam Barrett coming for a high ball, which left the Bury player an easy tap in.

However, White was quick to jump to the defence of the stopper, saying: "There has been so many times this season where he has helped us out. The conditions certainly didn't help.

"We played quite well but didn't take our chances."

Abbey are away to Tilbury on Saturday, one of five fixtures against sides battling it out near the bottom of the table.

"The teams we have played recently are good, consistent sides so it is not as though the players are taking the foot off the pedal," White said.

"We've now got six games left, mostly against the teams in and around us.

"We need to get as many points on the board and finish as high as possible. If that's 16th, then so be it."