Witham Town manager Garry Kimble knows his team will face a different test when they face local rivals Maldon and Tiptree tonight from the one they got at Wroxham last weekend.

The Ryman League division one north fixture at the Village Glass Stadium will be Witham’s first home game since December 7 after a string of postponed fixtures in recent weeks.

That has contributed to Witham having played just once so far in 2014 – their 2-1 win at Wroxham on Saturday – and Kimble feels the Jammers’ players may be fresher than his own.

But, with both teams pushing for honours towards the top of the division one north table, Kimble would take a point from tonight’s game.

He said: “The pitch is likely to be heavy and I think Maldon will have the advantage as they have played more games than us recently.

“But it was good that we could dust the cobwebs off last weekend at Wroxham.

“I won’t have to get them motivated for this one, though, with it being a local derby.

“Maldon are a good side, but if we apply ourselves then we should be OK.

“If we have to win ugly then so be it and we did that at Wroxham.

“What is crucial, though, is that we just have to make sure that we don’t get beaten.

“I’d take a point to be honest.

“Maldon will fancy their chances and we know they had a good result against Harlow at the weekend.

“This one will be a different kettle of fish from Wroxham.

“We know what they did against Harlow and what dangerous players they have, so we have to get in their faces from the start.”

Kimble said he will have Kris Newby back available for tonight’s game after he completed his suspension with the game at Wroxham last weekend.