Newmarket Town manager Michael Shinn keen for players to believe they belong at Step 4 after narrow derby defeat at Bury Town

Newmarket Town boss Michael Shinn believes that the performance his side produced during Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat at Bury Town shows that they ‘belong’ at the level.

Having missed out on promotion from the Pitching In Isthmian League North Division in the play-offs last season, Bury have been tipped by many to be a top five team again this time around.

And while they ultimately collected all three points at a damp Getaway Cars Stadium, Newmarket’s display ensured that it was far from a straightforward assignment.

After a tough opening 10 minutes in which the hosts’ Cemal Ramadan scored from the penalty spot, Newmarket settled down and carved out numerous chances.

Nevertheless, it was the home side that struck again in the 57th minute and while James Chivers halved the deficit soon after, an equalising goal eluded the visitors.

But while it is now three straight league defeats for newly-promoted Newmarket, Shinn is confident that his squad are adapting to their new surroundings.

He said: “Other than the result we can be really pleased with lots of that.

“In the first 10 minutes they’ve battered us – let’s get that right. We could have been two or three down and we were a bit rash to give the penalty away. But once we got to grips with it and the way they wanted to play, we carried a real threat and in the second half we probably created enough chances to win the game, or at least get something from it.

“It doesn’t feel right to be pleased with a defeat, but a tough game like this away at Bury, the performance we’ve put in shows the boys are learning and they’re learning quick.

“We’re not quite there yet in terms of belief – it’s something that I’m trying to drill home to them because they belong here.

“You only have to look at the way Bury have celebrated the win – they knew they were clinging on at the end there and that says an awful lot about us.

“We need to believe this our level because performances like that show that we can be competitive.”

‘Pressure’ still on despite being underdogs

While his side may well be the underdogs, Newmarket Town boss Michael Shinn is not approaching Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup tie at Lowestoft Town as a ‘free hit’.

The Jockeys, who will be appearing in the second round qualifying for the first time in more than 20 years, ply their trade a level below the Trawlerboys in the non-league pyramid.

As such, the expectation will be on the hosts to ensure that it is their name in the hat for next Monday’s draw.

However, Shinn has insisted that there will still be ‘pressure’ on his players to put in a performance.

He said: “It’s a difficult game but with the effort we put into games and the way we try to play, if we can stay in it then we’ve always got a chance of getting a result. It’s about staying in the game at those key moments.

“Is it a free hit? No, I don’t think so. There’s always pressure on every game.

“There’s pressure to perform, pressure to stay in the team and pressure to get results.

“It’s a game that hopefully we can go and enjoy and these are the days where you look forward to coach ride home, especially if you have to something celebrate.”

Full-back Andy Ballester will be available for selection after serving a suspension, while late checks will be made on the fitness of midfielder Efraim Romanos and attacker Prince Mutswunguma.

Off the mark in the league

After their thumping FA Cup victory last time out, Newmarket Town Women racked up their first league win of the season in emphatic fashion on Sunday.

The Jockeys triumphed 6-0 over visiting King’s Lynn Town at the Tristel Stadium – a result that continues their unbeaten start to new Eastern Region Women's Football League Division One North campaign following back-to-back score draws.

Newmarket’s first three goals against Lynn – scored by Beth Seymour, Katie Spiers and an opposition player – were all set up by Abbi Griffin.

Having registered a trio of assists, Griffin scored a goal of her own later in the contest alongside a brace from Cambridge United loanee Millie Docking, who has now found the back of the net six times in four appearances.

Newmarket will look to continue their positive form when they travel to face early league leaders Harpenden Town, who have taken maximum points from their opening three fixtures, on Sunday (2pm).