MALDON and Tiptree manager Terry Spillane has warned his side are now playing for their shirts.

The Jammers drew 1-1 with Burnham Ramblers in their Ryman League division one north encounter on Tuesday night.

The result left Spillane far from happy and saw it as a missed opportunity, despite writing off his side’s play-off hopes last week.

The Maldon manager confirmed, however, that he would still be in charge at Park Drive next season and it was time for his players to “step up to the plate”.

He said: “For me that was two points dropped.

“We had done enough in the second half to win the game.

“We created enough chances and had a penalty shout for a clear handball turned down.

“But that’s three games unbeaten now.

“However, I think if we had won, then gone on a run, we might have had an outside chance of the play-offs. I know it would have been a long shot but that’s gone now.

“The players are playing for their shirts now and who is going to be here next season.

“I have spoken to the chairman and he is happy for me to be here next season, as am I.

“So it’s up to the players now to step up to the plate and show they want to be part of this team. I was very disappointed with the first goal.

“I explained what Billy Hunt was capable of before the game, but we lost easy possession and failed to defend a quick free-kick.

“But we came back with a quality goal and it was one-way traffic after that “So it was disappointing not to get the win.”