HEYBRIDGE Swifts boss Cliff Akurang was disappointed with their defeat at Thamesmead Town.

Swifts lost out to a solitary goal in their Ryman League division one north 1-0 defeat at Thamesmead.

The game’s only goal arrived midway through the second half as Tyrus Gordon-Young fired home his 19th of the season from the edge of the box after some good approach play from Michael Spencer.

Akurang said: “I was disappointed with the result.

“We didn’t get going at all and we found it difficult to get to grips with the pace of our opposition.

“We made a defensive error to let them in and after that it was difficult to get back into the game.

“I made a few changes but that is no excuse.

“The players coming in know what I want from them.

“We were also missing Billy Hunt through injury and he is 50 per cent of our goal supply.

“But the other players have got to prove why they are at the club. When one one door closes another one opens and they have to take the opportunity in front of them and put on a display.”

Heybridge had a lot of the possession but failed to regularly test the home defence.

Gordon-Young set up the home side’s best chance of the first half only for Hopkins to be denied by a brave save from Niklas Freund in the Heybridge goal.

Derek Duncan fired wide from distance before Spencer fizzed a shot across the face of goal shortly before half-time.

Spencer then repeated the trick almost immediately after half time – this time Gordon-Young was only inches away from converting the chance before Gordon-Young sent a free header high over the bar.

The onslaught continued as Ashley Probets shot wide from the edge of the box.

In the 67th minute, Gordon-Young fired home from the edge of the box, beating Freund low to his left as the keeper tried to narrow the angle.

It could have been two but for a great save by Freund to deny Bode Anidugbe in the final ten minutes, but the victory was secure for the home side.

Looking ahead to their final game of the season, at Scraley Road, on Saturday against Brentwood Town, Akurang is looking for an improved display.

He said: “It would be nice to sign off with a win and a good performance in front of our home fans.

“It would give us hope for next season. But Brentwood are a very good team and we had an exciting game against them earlier in the season.

“If it is like that then it will be a tough game.

“Billy Hunt is still out injured and I don’t think I want to risk him especially with next season in mind.

“I was very pleased in the speed of the way the players turned the season around for me once I came in.

“It took a lot less stress off me that we got to a good position.

“And there weren’t many opportunities for us to drop back down afterwards.”