Imps boss Pip Boyland remains upbeat despite Brantham's 3-2 home to Sheringham after going down to 10 men.

Brantham gave up a 2-1 half time lead to lose but boss Boyland was bullish about his side's prospects as he rebuilds a decimated squad.

"We are pretty much back to where we started last season and we have to build again," said Boyland who played the 90 minutes at right back.

Ollie Godbold wheels away to ceebrate (Picture: Nub News)

Only skipper James Lee, versatile Tom Lawson and George Tuck remain from the side that finished last season strongly and Boyland admitted the club is still reeling from the loss of six senior players during the summer.

The club's reserves effectively folded, with Dan Hart combining his Under-18s role with stepping up to manage the Under 23s development squad and Brantham are relying on youngsters to complete the squad.

Boyland added: "We lost six players to higher level during the summer who we were hoping to keep hold off we needed to regroup. Bring through youngsters and get a new squad together.

"We have to dig deep and completely refresh."

Louis Bloom back at Brantham (Picture: Nub News)

However, Boyland praised the commitment from his players and is confident things will come good.

"The players are showing all the right signs; the commitment, the ways they do things, but we are just not getting any luck at the moment.

"The sending off when we were on top. I'm not the first should have been a booking, the second yes and so we had to play half an hour down to 10 men."

Boyland was happy with the way his side responded to going an early goal down.

"We were almost faultless first half after conceding," said Boyland. "We were solid, I was really pleased with individual performances, but second half we conceded another early goal and could not tie it together.

"That was demoralising and as soon as we stop giving teams early goals we will be better."

Sloppy defending throughout led to Jamie Smith opening the scoring for the Norfolk side after 17 minutes.

Brantham bit back with goals from Ollie Godbold and Luri Fernandez, while James Lee, Louis Bloom and Luke Hipkin all worked the keeper.

More chances came early in the second half but Sheringham drew level after allowing Lagshan Sivakumar after failing to clear.

It all unraveled for Brantham when Hipkin was booked twice in quick succession and dismissed. Sheringham made good use of the extra man to leave the defence exposed and Macintyre Holt waltzed through to snatch the winner for the visitors.

Luke Hipkin sent off (Picture: Nub News)

New signings have included Danny Garrod who came off the bench to make his debut, and Bloom and Fernandez but Boyland is well aware the Brantham Leisure Centre based club does not have the funds for wholesale reinforcements.

Boyland concluded: "We are realistic at Brantham. We know we have tdevelp players rather than buying them in. It may be slow again but I have every faith in these players to turn it around again, just as we did last season.

"But the quicker we learn not to make mistakes, and be solid, shut up shop and stop giving away silly stuff, the quicker this brand new side will believe and turn things around."

Brantham also welcomed back keeper Finn Shorten, who was injured in the game against Woodbridge which was abandoned, with about 16 minutes of normal time to play. Thurlow Nunn League officials have not yet announced when the match will be replayed.