HEYBRIDGE Swifts boss Cliff Akurang is demanding his players maintain their discipline.

Swifts won their Ryman League division one north encounter with Waltham Abbey 1-0 at Scraley Road on Tuesday night.

However, they had to do it the hard way as they were reduced to ten men just before the break when Aaron Gayle was sent-off after Shamido Pedulu had given them an early lead.

Akurang said: “Unfortunately we are getting accustomed to getting a man sent off.

“I am not happy with the players’ lack of discipline.

“It has to change.

“I told them at half-time, on Tuesday, that they have to take responsibility for it.

“They can’t use going down to ten men as an excuse for losing, they have to go out there and win it the hard way.

“It is down to them, if something is building up in a game then they have to diffuse it.

“They can’t let it get to them and lose focus.

“They listened and they went out in the second half and played like 11 men and held on to the lead.”

This weekend Swifts host 17th-placed Great Wakering Rovers, the team immediately below them in the table who they leap-frogged following Tuesday night’s victory.