MANAGER Mark McLean is looking forward to seeing his Halstead Town team fully hit their stride in the second month of the Thurlow Nunn League division one south season.

The opening month was certainly not without its success as Halstead closed out their opening six games with a fifth straight win with a 5-0 victory against Fire United last weekend as they stayed op of the table, but McLean insists there is plenty more to come from the Humbugs.

The start of the season has seen Halstead's squad having to adapt to having a number of players unavailable through injuries and other commitments and McLean is now looking forward to getting a settled unit as they head into the second month, starting with a trip to Harwich & Parkeston on Saturday.

"I really can't complain about the start that we've had, but I know there is more to come from us," said McLean.

"As we head into the second month of the season, I want the squad to settle down so we can really show what I know we have.

"Holidays are coming to an end now and this is the last weekend where we'll be missing big players through their cricket commitments.

"So I'm looking for us to settle down as a squad now and really hit our stride. "We have been playing well so far, but we're not at the levels that I know we can reach.

"I'm looking for more continuity in the squad and for us to show our ruthless side.

"I do feel there is more to come from us.

"We've hit a good stride considering the predicament we've found ourselves in with the injuries we've had, but we will get better now.

"I'm pleased that we have done well when you look at some of the teams that we've played already.

"We've beaten Wivenhoe and Little Oakley in the league and a very good Lopes Tavares side in the Essex Senior Cup and I think that bodes well as it shows what a good side we are, but my aim is to get that continuity in the squad coming and I feel we'll really hit our stride then.

"Hopefully we can prove that over the next month."

That starts with a trip to Harwich & Parkeston on Saturday and even though the Shrimpers haven't had the greatest of openings themselves, McLean is well aware of the quality they possess.

He said: "I saw Harwich when they played Holland in the week and we know what they are about.

"They have players like Sam Cripps, Jordan Heath and Kevin Coyle in their squad and we have to be careful because we know they will be up and around the top of the division at the end of the season.

"We did well against them last year and we want to continue that, but we are aware of the threats they pose."

McLean said central defender Garry Burdett would be suspended for the trip to Harwich, while a couple of other squad members were doubts with injuries, but he felt confident they would have enough quality to get a result from their trip to the Royal Oak.

Halstead will be looking to repeat the performance they had last weekend in beating Fire United 5-0 in the league.

McLean added: "There are no easy games in this league unless you make them so and it was a very good performance from us.

"We started so well and were on the front foot from the first whistle. "We scored after six or seven minutes, but could have been two or three up by that point as we had momentum from the first kick and just blew them away.

"It settled down in the second half as the intensity came out of the game, but we were still getting shots away and their keeper made some good saves.

"We couldn't add to the scoreline, but it should really have been a cricket score and wouldn't have been unfair if it had been nine or ten nil."

However, the Halstead boss was disappointed to see striker Ricky Gardner limp off in the latter stages of the win against Fire United with a recurrence of the hamstring problem that blighted his pre-season preparations.

"The only down side was seeing Ricky pull up as he felt his hamstring again late in the game," said McLean.

"That was disappointing and I'm devastated for the boy.

"We have to make sure he's right now, but I felt he was getting there.

"You could see that he wasn't quite at the level that I know he has, but his link-up play was starting to show, he got his goal and he was getting in good positions showing snippets of what he can bring, so it's very disappointing that he's now going to be out, but we need to get him right."