JOHN Easterford says a good December will set Bowers & Pitsea up perfectly for a play-off tilt in 2018.

Bowers had a good November, although were thrashed 6-0 by Chelmsford City in the Essex Senior Cup on Tuesday night.

Easterford, 31, is not putting too much emphasis on the result and is instead focusing on second-placed Dereham Town on Saturday.

And with matches against Barking, Haringey Borough and Canvey Island to come in the Isthmian North before the New Year, Easterford says he is ready to continue scrapping for points near the top.

“November was good and we got a lot of points but we are now looking forward and December is a massive month,” he said. “We have some really big six-pointers and that is the bigger picture for us, not the result on Tuesday.

“I would like to say we won’t be too greedy and target too many points but we want to win each of these games. If we can come through this month and be in the top three come 2018 we will be doing well.”

The Clarets were 6-0 winners on Tuesday night, with Kudus Oyenuga scoring a brace of first half penalties, although Bowers did hit the frame of the goal through Usman Adeniji and Easterford.

But the Clarets ran away with it after the break. Matt Johnson scored twice in four minutes, with Mark Haines and Chris Dickson also netting.

But Easterford is remaining positive, having lost none of the previous eight games he has appeared in.

“The cup gave us the opportunity to get minutes under our belts and although we were without some key guys we were against a very good, strong team and in the end the levels showed,” he said.

“We gave a good account of ourselves in the first half but we are under no illusions about what our priorities are this season. We had a chat afterwards saying we shouldn’t be disheartened.

“Personally, I am pleased as I played six games in November and we won four and drew two. Coming back from injury has kicked me on and I have proven to myself that I can still do a bit when I’m fully fit.”