Maldon and Tiptree manager Terry Spillane has rated Witham Town as the best side his team have faced in Ryman League division one north after seeing them beaten 3-0 at the Village Glass Stadium.

Spillane admitted that it wasn’t a good performance by his team and was disappointed that the same set of players hadn’t been able to repeat the display that saw them beat Harlow Town last weekend.

But he gave credit to Witham for the way they played in the derby encounter.

“Truthfully, the better side won,” said the Jammers’ boss.

“They are a difficult side to play against and I want to give them as much credit as I can because they were good.

“But I felt we were really poor after Saturday’s performance.

“Looking at it with hindsight, we should have freshened it up.

“We started with the same 11 that started on Saturday and did so well, but sometimes, as a manager, you have to hold your hands up.

“That horse has bolted now but maybe it would have made bit of difference for us with some fresher legs.

“It was completely the opposite from Saturday.

“We didn’t have one player who had a good performance at Witham.

“In fact if you asked me who my man-of-the-match was, I wouldn’t have one for you.

“I don’t think any of our players played anywhere near the standard that they are capable of.

“I’m not going to give Witham credit for that.

“They out-played us, but I’m not going to credit them for our all our players having an off day.

“Somewhere between Saturday and now, although I put the same names down, I’ve put a different side out.

“This doesn’t change anything, though, and we’ve still got 19 games to go. “I think it will go to the wire, but I think ten or 11 wins should see us in the play-offs.

“But we’re going into February now and no-one knows who will win the league or be in the play-offs.

“I have a good idea and I’d say Witham should be in it, but they have a lot of games to catch up.

“But I don’t think many teams will go to their place and beat them.

“I think they are the best team we’ve faced this year.

“On that performance against us, they are the best we’ve played.”