WITHAM Town manager Adam Flint doesn't believe that his team's New Year's Day defeat by Maldon & Tiptree will halt the momentum that they built up towards the end of 2017.

Town started 2018 with a Bostik League division north loss against their high-flying local rivals after conceding in stoppage time and going down to a 2-1 defeat.

It brought an end to an 11-match run where Witham had collected 23 points through November and December and Flint feels the confidence built up from that will stand them in good stead when they host Haringey Borough at the Village Glass Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

He said: "We are still up and we just have to make sure that we bounce back with a good performance on Saturday to keep the momentum going.

"Haringey are another good side, but the boys were gutted that they didn't get something from the game against Maldon because they had matched a good side other than the late goal that won it for them.

"I'm confident that we can bounce back as heads are not down and the confidence is there in the boys now.

"There is belief in the team now that they can get results against the best teams in the division.

"We know Haringey will be tough, though.

"I watched them on Saturday and they have a good striker who we will have to keep quiet, but if we work as hard as them them we can do that and we have players in our side who we know can hurt them."

Flint said full-back Luke Mallett may be a doubt with an ankle problem, but he had no injury concerns other than that and was expecting some tough decisions in making his choice over team selection for the visit of Haringey.

The Town boss added: "It's good for me but also bad for me as well.

"It's going to be tough as there will be people missing out and I'm expecting it to be hard to pick a team to be honest."

The game against third-placed Maldon & Tiptree looked to be heading for a draw after Lance Akins had equalised a first-half penalty by Jammers hotshot Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe.

However, the Maldon striker took his season's tally to 34 goals as he struck in the 92nd minute to deny Witham a point.

"It was always going to be tough as they are a good side," added Flint.

"The penalty looked a bit soft as I thought Lance got the ball and when we equalised, it was all us.

"We had gone with three at the back to get back into it and stayed with that, but their winning goal came from the boy up front who has been so prolific for them this season.

"Lance had kept him quiet throughout the game even though he hadn't played for a few weeks, but the ball came over the top in the 92nd minute, he did a neat turn and hit it into the bottom corner.

"It was a shame, but it didn't dishearten me too much as we had played well.

"I think Maldon are probably the best side that we have played and they came into it having won four on the bounce.

"It was just a shame that we couldn't hang on at the end."