BRIGHTLINGSEA Regent manager Tom Rothery hopes his players benefit from the “boing effect” this weekend.

The R’s have had a positive few days, twice coming from behind to draw 2-2 against Bostik League title-chasers Dulwich Hamlet before strolling into the Tolleshunt D’Arcy Memorial Cup final after putting nine goals past Springfield on Tuesday.

Now they hope to keep the feel-good factor going when they head to premier division basement boys Burgess Hill Town.

Rothery was delighted with last week’s eye-catching result – especially as it followed five straight defeats – and expects his players to have a spring in their step tomorrow.

“It was a great result against Dulwich – absolutely massive,” he told the Gazette.

“We can all find excuses for the five defeats – things like refereeing decisions – but sometimes you have to take responsibility for yourself.

“I’m a massive believer in that, in life and in terms of football.

“You get rewarded for what you put in and that’s why we had to give everything to make sure we got a positive result against Dulwich.

“It was always going to be tough but we went toe-to-toe with a top side and also proved we can adapt to different tactics, because it was after we’d changed our shape that we got our second equaliser (scored by Aaron Condon).

“The players deserve massive respect for that and even when we were losing, we tried to stay on the front foot.

“Now we’ve got to use it as a platform – as a boing effect – to go and get other results.

“People might say it was a battling draw but we showed more than that.

“There was genuine quality out there and you only have to look at the two goals for proof of that.

"It’s nice to have something to build on.” Despite their draw, Brightlingsea slipped down a place in the premier division table because of results elsewhere.

They are 20th but only one side will fall through the relegation trapdoor and Regent have a healthy 11-point lead over bottom-of-the-table Burgess Hill.

“I was so pleased after last weekend because it had been really difficult time,” added Rothery.

“We’d been on a bad run and everyone I spoke to was asking me about relegation.

“Obviously it’s a consideration because of the run we’d been on but, as I’ve said before, I just think we’re better than that.

“That’s why I’m not really thinking about it or unduly concerned.

“I’m not saying we’re going to win the league or anything like that but I honestly think the squad we’ve got is good enough to be in and around mid-table.

"On our day we’re a match for anyone and a lot of that boils down to our team ethic and work-rate.

“Brightlingsea have always had that.

“It’s not something I’ve brought to the club.

"However, it’s certainly something I want to keep going – for everyone to keep showing that fighting spirit.”