Witham Town manager Garry Kimble knows just how important the run-up to Christmas could be for them in Ryman League division north this year.

It has been a tough opening to the season for Kimble’s team after just five members of last year’s squad remained at the club over the summer and they have won just once from ten league games so far.

Witham did progress into the second qualifying round of the FA Cup, but fell at the first hurdle of the FA Trophy on Saturday as they lost 4-2 to Herne Bay so now turn their full focus on moving out of the bottom three and up the division north table.

Despite the tough start to the campaign, Kimble is confident that his team can be in the top ten, but knows they must turn things around quickly – starting with a trip to Waltham Abbey, who are the only side below them in the table, tomorrow.

“We’re a top-ten team and our aim is to get in there,” said Kimble.

“It will be a tall order, but we believe we can do it.

“Confidence is fine in the changing room, but it’s just about belief.

“We just need to be more ruthless.

“It has taken us a while to get going this year, but it will click.

“It’s frustrating and I’m finding it harder than last year.

“Hopefully we can pick it up this week in the league as this spell between now and Christmas is massive for us.

“We have already played some of the top sides in the league and we have matched them but silly errors have let us down.

“Now we have a couple of weeks playing sides who are around us in the table.

“Cut out the mistakes and we’ll be fine, but we can’t keep doing the same things or personnel will have to change again.”