Halstead Town manager Mark Benterman believes that the next 14 days could define his team’s season.

The Humbugs’ Thurlow Nunn League division one promotion hopes were dealt a blow last weekend as they were beaten 2-1 in a tight defeat at leaders Wivenhoe Town.

Benterman had said before the game that it was a fixture his side couldn’t afford to lose, but while he knows their hopes of a move into the premier division were set back, he knows there is a long way to go.

However, it won’t be easy, with five games due to come up in the next two weeks, starting with a game against Dereham Town at Rosemary Lane today (kick-off 3pm) before a trip to Cornard United on Easter Monday and then a home date against AFC Sudbury Reserves on April 1.

Benterman said: “There are still eight games to go and we have to get what we can out of them.

“We now need to see a response in a tough week for the boys.

“We’ve got five games in 14 days so these next two weeks will define our season.

“It starts against Dereham tomorrow, then at Cornard on Monday and we then host Sudbury next Friday so it’s a tough week to get us going.

“If we are still in the mix at the end of those three games then it will be all to play for.

“We’ll be looking for nine points out of nine from them as that’s all we can do and we’ll then have to see how Ely can respond.

“It’s not about performances now, it’s all about results.

“The mindset will be tested as it’s a big mental battle as well as a physical one now.

“There’s still a long way to go, but our season depends on the next 14 days.

“We have a young squad and it’s a lot to ask of them, but they are a hungry squad and are up for it.

Benterman said he expected to have a fully fit squad available for the visit of Dereham Town tomorrow and he was also hoping to have a new addition available for the trip to Cornard United on Easter Monday.

The Humbugs boss said midfielder Julian Simon-Parson was set to return to the club after being at Bowers and Pitsea this season.

Benterman said: “Jules is a great lad and was very popular when he was here before.

“He felt he wasn’t getting enough game time at Bowers and wants to come over. He’s an energetic player and is a great addition.”

The Town manager also said that he is in talks with the club to make plans for next season, however, he doesn’t want to put things in stone until it is clarified what division his team will be playing in the 2016/17 campaign.

“I’m talking with the club at the moment as we are looking to agree stuff for next year,” added Benterman. “The club want me to stay and I want to, but while we are talking about what we want to do for next year, we are putting some things on hold because we honestly don’t know where we will be next season.

“It’s the middle of March and it’s great that we’re talking about not knowing where we will be, but one thing I don’t want is to have to be rebuilding over the summer yet again.

“I’ve had to build three teams in my time at the club as we’ve lost players as we’ve been victims of our own success. I don’t want that to happen again so we are looking to put things in place for next year while at the same time holding fire until we know where we will be.”