Steve Burr took heart from the dogged performance his makeshift side produced against Skrill Premier leaders Luton Town on Saturday.
With an ever-growing list of injuries, the Blues boss was forced to cobble together a team as best he could from what was left of his squad.
Having seen a 27-game unbeaten run come to an end with a shock loss to Woking, the Hatters were out for blood and with an 8,500-strong crowd cheering them on.
But the Blues had other ideas and a brave performance saw them frustrate the home side until a freak goal from sub Matt Robinson on 70 minutes broke the tension.
Prolific pairing Andre Gray and Paul Benson - with 40 goals between them going into the game - struck late on meaning the final score bore no real reflection on the game.
Although disappointed to see his side's winless run extended to four games, Burr was proud of the way his players performed.
He said: "When you think we've got half the team missing I was really pleased with how we went about things."
Luton struggled to break down a stubborn Blues backline with stand-in centre back Michael Kay impressing alongside Paul Linwood, who winced his way through the 90 minutes with an injured shin.
But with 20 minutes the visitors run of bad luck continued when Robinson whipped over a cross and his mis-hit delivery flew straight into the net.
Burr said: "We came with a gameplan and it was working very well.
"The first goal was a fluke which rocked us a little bit and then the two we conceded after that were poor goals from our point of view.
"I'm disappointed but it was going to be tough coming here. I felt the longer the game went on we created chances as well and that was a good sign.
"The first goal just about sums up what's been happening to us. It was very fortuitous and that's the way it's been going.
"When you are at the top you get little things going for you and that's what happened."
Already without a host of important players, the Blues lost another before kick off when experienced forward Gareth Seddon was taken unwell on the team coach.
Burr said: "I will never fault the players but we just lack that bit of strength when you need it most
"The effort and commitment the lads have been putting in has been tremendous.
"We had a blow on the way down because Gareth Seddon was ill on the coach. We couldn't have risked him because he has been sick on the way down and he was really poorly."
Alongside Kay, there were starts for Joe Heath, Jamie Menagh and Nathan Turner and all stepped up to the plate with solid performances.
Burr will have been pleased with that but must be hoping for a change in fortunate over the remaining seven games.
"I said after the Southport game I've never seen anything like it and it continues," he said.
"You would like to think our luck will change so but I'm still waiting to see it. I'm one of those who tries to make your own luck but I have never known anything like the injury situation here.
"We'll keep having a go and if we see the same sort of commitment on Tuesday then hopefully we can get the rewards I believe we should have had over the last couple of games."
John Rooney picked up his fifth booking of the season when referee Rob Whitton bowed to pressure from the home fans and cautioned him for timewasting with only 29 minutes gone.
However, the midfielder will be available for the home game with relegation rivals Tamworth on Tuesday (7.45pm) as the automatic one-match ban for a fifth booking ceased on January 1.
Burr admitted he was less than impressed with the performance of Mr Whitton after the official booked five Blues players inside the opening 30 minutes.
"I'm sick and tired of talking about referees," said Burr.
"Was there a bad tackle in the game? No there wasn't and we've got five bookings. Some of the bookings are just unbelievable."
