NO-ONE knows better than Brad Quinton just how important the next month will be for Braintree Town’s chances of finishing their season in the Vanarama National League South play-off positions.

The Iron manager was delighted to see his team end a six-game wait for a win as they overcame Poole Town 1-0 at the IronmongeryDirect Stadium last weekend.

They will be looking to back that up with another positive result when they head to Weston-Super-Mare on Saturday and Quinton wants to make sure his team start March as they finished February.

From years of experience as a player and now in management, the Iron boss knows how important a strong March can be to a promotion campaign, so he wants to make sure they are well-positioned by the time April comes around.

Quinton said: “I’m hoping for everyone to stay fit and well and to keep their discipline and we’ll look for the results to come.

“The next two, three or four games are key for everyone – not just us.

“It’s going to be cold and conditions will be sapping and this is the time when teams suffer from not having players through injuries and suspensions and you have to take your chances.

“We did that against Poole and we have to do it again.

“It may not be pretty at this time of year.

“I know we have played better than in that game and lost but we just have to keep results coming.

“Wherever you finish in the league, February and March are always key months.

“In April, everyone finds another fitness level that you wonder where it came from but we have to get there first.

“We’ll continue to try to look after them but we’ll keep working them hard and there will be no rest for anyone.

“Some will come in and some will be on the bench because they need that rest.”

Quinton knows his squad could be stretched by injuries and suspensions over the next period and, having brought striker Dan Thompson in from Tonbridge Angels last week, the Iron boss admits he is still keen to add to his squad.

“I still have to look to strengthen the team,” he added.

“If that means one has to go then that’s what I will have to do in all areas.

“We have people training and I have my eyes on people all the time.

“We have a seven-dayer going in this week for one if not two.

“So I’m possibly looking to get one in this week if I can.

“You never know what is in a club’s mind with a seven-dayer; they may be happy to release them immediately or you may have to wait.

“We will see.”

Quinton revealed that another target had opted to go elsewhere, but stressed that he wouldn’t “hold anyone to ransom” if players' hearts weren’t in being with Braintree Town.

He said: “One got away from us – Antonio (German) – who decided to go to St Albans because it was on his doorstep but he’d been training with us for a week.

“I won’t hold anyone to ransom and if they want to play elsewhere then good luck to them.”