WITHAM Town manager Adam Flint has been encouraged by the positive mood of his players despite their current poor run of results.

Having gone on a run of six back-to-back wins in the early part of the season, Witham haven’t won in any of their last six outings in all competitions.

The latest of those was a 2-0 defeat at Cheshunt in Ryman League division north last weekend and Flint is hoping his team can turn their fortunes around when they host Aveley in the FA Trophy preliminary round on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

The Witham boss feels another good run isn’t far off, though, as his young players are staying very positive.

“We have been losing games, but we are playing well and it just hasn’t clicked for us yet,” said Flint.

“Someone said to me after the game on Saturday that we shouldn’t get disheartened as it will come for us.

“We’re just on a bad run, but we’re not playing badly.

“I couldn’t really say anything to the players after the game at Cheshunt as it was really hard on them.

“We just have to keep working and playing and I know we’ll get back on a decent run.

“The players all believe in what we’re doing and I could see that on Saturday.

“We were two-nil down at half-time, but they all believed they could get something out of it.

“That’s a real positive that they do believe; they believe in each other and it will come.

“They are fearless because they are young players.”

Witham return to action at the Village Glass Stadium on Saturday when they host Aveley in the FA Trophy (kick-off 3pm)ahead of a return to league action on Tuesday when they will host Wroxham (kick-off 7.45pm).

The Trophy encounter will be the second meeting in quick succession with Aveley after a recent division north game between the two ended in a 2-2 draw thanks to a late equaliser for Justin Gardener’s team.

Flint admitted his team weren’t at their best on that occasion and is looking for a better performance from them this time as it is a competition they are hoping to make progress in.

He added: “It is the biggest cup competition that we are left in and there are financial rewards for the club as well.

“It’s a competition that I’ve never managed in before and it’s a good chance to play a decent side if we can get through a couple of rounds.

“So we’ll be trying to do well, but Aveley will as well and it will be tough.

“It was two-two when we faced them in the league recently, but we were a little under par when we played them before and we won’t play like that again “I’m not saying Aveley were at their best either on that day, though, and they are fourth in the league, so we’re taking each game as it comes.”

Flint said Usman Adeniji was still struggling with a hamstring injury and may not be fit for the Trophy tie, while Lewis Payne was unavailable due to personal commitments.