PETER Beadle blasted his players for allowing Eastbourne back into the game on Saturday, but insisted they can still make the play-offs.

Andy Gurney gave County a first- half lead with a well-struck drive on 26 minutes before substitute Matt Crabb pinched a point for the visitors just after the hour mark.

But with other results going their way, a win tonight against Thurrock (Spytty Park, kick off 7.45pm) would move the Exiles up to fourth in the table and leave them needing only a point when they entertain promotion rivals Fisher Athletic on Saturday.

"I think we should have won it," said Beadle. "We had enough chances to win it but it wasn't to be.

"To be fair to Eastbourne they were brave in the second half and they had nothing to lose.

"The only saving grace is that most of the other results went for us. It's still in our own hands and two wins will be enough."

Beadle felt his players sat back after taking the lead and demanded an improved performance tonight.

"We scored early on and I think we took a step backwards again, that's a habit of ours. We took our foot off the pedal and didn't play with the same intensity or tempo, and that invites trouble," he explained.

"We invited pressure onto ourselves and we couldn't get the momentum back and I suppose in the end a draw was a fair result.

"I was disappointed by our second half, but we've not been beaten, we've taken a point, and I said to the lads after the game - this is not a time for inquisitions. It's time to regroup and look towards Thurrock.

"It's all about how badly you want it on the day and we've got to want it more than them."

Midfielder Nathan Davies will be available tonight, having missed Saturday's game after his girlfriend went into labour at 3.30am on Saturday.

Lee Fowler passed a late fitness test to deputise against Eastbourne but was withdrawn after 70 minutes and is likely to make way for Davies tonight.