HEYBRIDGE Swifts boss Jody Brown doesn't think the dramatic finish to his team's Friday night derby encounter at Witham Town will have any bearing on the game when the two go head-to-head again tonight.

Weather permitting, the two are due to face each other again in another Bostik League division north clash - at Swifts' Scraley Road home this time - having drawn 1-1 at Witham at the start of last weekend.

A crowd of more than 400 were at the Village Glass Stadium to see the derby fixture and were treated to a thrilling encounter that was a classic game of two halves.

Swifts had the lion's share of the opening 45 minutes and held the lead at half-time thanks to a Harrison Chatting goal, but the hosts turned it around after the break and got their reward with a Correy Davidson equaliser in the 90th minute.

It meant Witham were sent into tonight's rematch feeling the more buoyant of the two local rivals, but Swifts boss Brown doesn't think his players will be dwelling on the way that previous game ended.

He said: “I think it’s a shame we have to play each other twice within a space of four or five days.

“I never think that bodes well for anyone but we just have to get on with it.

“I don’t think what happened on Friday will have any bearing on it, though.

“Had one team won then maybe it would but because we drew then I don’t think it will.

“We’ll obviously go into the game knowing a bit more about each other, so we’ll go into it a bit wiser, but I think it will be another tight game.

“It will be another typical derby – intense, but a bit scrappy.

“If we can pick something up from it then great.

“With it being at home, we’d like to win, but if it’s a point then it’s still another point we’ll have.

“It’s all about momentum for us and that we don’t lose games."

The previous encounter left Heybridge sitting 12th in the division north table - having played up to eight games less than some sides around them - and Witham in 17th.

Brown felt it was a typical derby clash and while he was disappointed to see two points slip away in the dying moments of the match, he was happy to take the one they held on to.

“I didn’t think it was a great game," he added.

“It was a bit scrappy and I thought a draw was probably a good result for both teams.

“Obviously when you concede late on, you are really disappointed because you were so close to the three points, but a draw was fair.

“There was hardly a shot in the game to be honest and I can’t remember either keeper really having to make save.

“It was a scrappy game and we’ll take the point."