Lee Bircham is seeking the right reaction when his Herts Senior County League champions meet the Aubrey Cup winners this evening.

Belstone secured their cup success after goals from Jason Puzey and John Christian earned a 2-1 victory over Ware Sports on Monday, and they will be aiming to continue their good week against Bovingdon.

For the manager of the league winners though, he is looking for a positive response after his side suffered just a second league defeat of the season with a 2-1 reverse at Standon & Puckeridge on Saturday.

Bircham admitted his team only had themselves to blame after missing a host of chances again, but it was the manner of their second-half display which he found intolerable.

“I won’t lie, I was fuming with that second half,” the Bovingdon boss said afterwards. “Admittedly we had a lot of players missing again but we should have had enough quality to see this game off comfortably.

“The chances we had in the first half were absolute sitters and I still don’t know how we never took at the very least four or five of them.

“In the second half I didn’t like what I saw at all. I know we’ve won the league but I’m a winner and want to win every game. I didn’t like some of the attitude on show and I won’t be witnessing it again, I can promise you that.”

After a first half that had somehow ended goalless, the visitors finally converted a chance in the 64th minute when captain Courtney Massay dispatched his 19th goal of the season.

But five minutes later Standon were awarded a controversial penalty which they converted and suddenly they sensed they had a chance.

A draw increasingly looked to be on the cards until Bovingdon pressed the self-destruct button in the closing stages when a defender got caught on the ball and realising an opponent was one-on-one, he brought him down to concede another penalty and was sent off.

The visitors still had opportunities to get something from the game but they were to suffer just a second defeat in 25 league outings.

Bircham added: “It’s been a phenomenal season and I know I have a duty to try some lads out who haven’t featured as much this season and with one eye on next season but I still want to do this and pick up points in the process. That will always be the case with me.

“We’ve got a game on Thursday night at home vs Belstone and we will shuffle the pack again and see which boys shine.”