ROB Small insists Bowers & Pitsea have not ‘checked out’ for their summer holidays despite seeing their 15-match winning run come to an end.

Bowers travel to Great Wakering Rovers today looking to bounce back from their 3-1 defeat to Heybridge Swifts 48 hours earlier.

Martyn Stokes’ opener was cancelled out by Toib Adeyemi, while Dan Walker and Kreshnic Krasniqi’s penalty ensured Heybridge came out on top at the Len Salmon Stadium.

However, the loss did not mar Bowers’ celebrations as they got their hands on the Isthmian North title.

“The result didn’t detract from the celebrations after the game at all,” said Bowers boss Small.

“We can’t say we are happy losing any game of football, but it was so special to celebrate and see the children and volunteers around the ground with the trophy.

“We have overcome so much disappointment in recent years - with near misses - but we kept knocking on the door.

“It wasn’t close in the league and we were the best team in the division by a long way.

“We have broken a lot of records along the way and I am so pleased for everyone at the club.

“The players, supporters and volunteers deserve this success.

“But we have certainly not checked out for the summer because we have two games to go and we are going to try our best to win maximum points.

“We want to play like champions and that is the players’ challenge.”

Bowers will visit Burroughs Park with Wakering also looking to return to winning ways.

A 3-1 reverse against Maldon & Tiptree means Steve Butterworth’s side have suffered back-to-back defeats.

Eddie-Louis Dsane and Liam Hope put Maldon on course for victory before Wakering goalkeeper Bobby Mason saw red for handling the ball outside of the penalty area.

With full-back Jason Ring donning the gloves, Tariq Issa scored the resulting free-kick.

Josh Wiggins’ late effort proved to be no more than a consolation and Butterworth is looking forward to doing battle with the champions this afternoon.

“We failed to take our chances at Maldon and, had we done so, we would have come away with a totally different result,” said the Wakering interim player-manager.

“We started poorly at Maldon and I’ve told the players that we can’t afford to do that against Bowers.

“It’s our last home game of term and we’re hoping for a decent crowd.”