JOHN HAMSHER says Chipstead need to play for 90 minutes after seeing his side's second half fightback prove in vain against Crawley Down Gatwick on Tuesday night.
The Chips fought back from 2-0 down to level things up at the Haven Centre, with Jason Goodchild halving the deficit before a 30-yard stunner from Joe Nwoko put the visitors on level terms.
However, a late Luke Blewden header – his second goal of the night – sealed victory for the play-off chasing Anvils and left the Chips boss to rue a fourth successive away league defeat and a second this week.
"We conceded some silly goals," he said of Blewden's double and a Craig Richards header on the stroke of half-time.
"We gave them a 2-0 headstart and we were always fighting back after that.
"We did well in the second half and I felt if we could have carried on the way we were playing, we could have perhaps nicked it, but instead it is another defeat."
And Hamsher says his young side must look to perform like they did in the second half as they look to pick themselves up from a run that has seen them lose five of their last six games and slip to 16th in the table.
He said: "We need to play like we did in the second half from the start of games.
"We are in a dogfight now and we have to keep working hard."
Hamsher was pleased, however, to see a vast improvement from Saturday's performance, with the Chips boss describing his side's 3-0 defeat at Worthing on Saturday as the "worst performance" he has been a part of.
"It was just embarrassing," he said. "We just didn't turn up and I would say it was the worst performance from any side I have been involved in."
Hamsher said it was a good response on Tuesday though, adding that he would now be looking for his Chips players to put in another good display against promotion chasers Faversham Town on Saturday.
"We beat them 2-0 at their place back in December and if we can cut the silly goals and play like we did in the second half here, we will hopefully be OK."
Meanwhile, Hamsher reserved special praise for the wonder strike from Nwoko that brought his side level against the Anvils, adding that he wished he did it more often.
"I said to him before the game that he needs to be more selfish in front of goal sometimes.
"He was with that and it was an unstoppable shot, I don't think any keeper would have stopped it.
"Unfortunately it wasn't to be a winner and it is the same old story for us in not winning, but we will keep working hard, stay strong and hopefully pick up some results."
Chipstead: Eacott, J Andrew, Williams, Preddie, Dean, Jelly, Smith (K Andrew), Goodchild, Nwoko (Haworth), Antonion, Henry. Unused subs: Mensah, Hemmings, Georgiou.
