ADAM Flint wants to ensure that his Witham Town side are more good Dr Jekyll rather than poor Mr Hyde when Brentwood visit the Village Glass Stadium on Boxing Day.

The Town boss knows his team’s inconsistency has been their downfall so far in Ryman League division north.

So Flint is calling on them to have more of the spirit they have shown in recent games against Maldon and Tiptree and AFC Hornchurch than what he saw against Great Wakering Rovers and Thamesmead Town.

Witham’s disappointing 4-2 defeat at Thamesmead last weekend was followed on Tuesday by a steadfast defensive display in a 1-1 draw with leaders Maldon and Tiptree.

And Flint is calling on his team to have the good side of their split personality on show when they host struggling Brentwood Town on Boxing Day (kick-off 3pm).

Flint said: “Look at the top teams; we’ve competed with every single one of them and we have to make sure we do that with sides lower down.

“We have to beat Brentwood now. The trouble is we are Jekyll and Hyde, so we have to make sure we come out right for that game.

“We’re just like Jekyll and Hyde.

“Look at Thamesmead; if we’d played like that against Maldon, we’d have been beaten eight-nil.

“But that’s us and we’ve got a point from a game we perhaps shouldn’t have done when you look at the resources available to the two clubs.

“We wanted to be in the top half at Christmas and we’re 13th so we’re happy with that.

“I said that at the start of the season, for us to be around the top half so we could push on in the second half.

“It gives us something to aim for.”

Lance Akins’ 89th minute headed goal gave Witham the point against Maldon, but their draw was built on a resolute defensive show in a game where they were on the back foot for much of the time.

And Flint had praise for two key members of his back five - keeper Reece Paine on his Witham debut and the goalscorer Akins.

“I thought the keeper made a big difference for us,” added Flint.

“He was at Royston at the start of the season and has been at Stansted.

“He was signed by Chelmsford City last year, but I’ve managed to pick him up and you can see that he’s a presence in there.

“He’s not loud but he talks a lot and punches well.

“I thought he did really well for his debut against a good Maldon side.

“I also thought Lance (Akins) was outstanding at the back.

“He may make the odd mistake, but you tell him something and he learns and I think he can play at a higher level.”

Akins is set to be missing for the Christmas action, though, as he starts a three-game suspension, however, Flint is hoping to have several members of his squad back who were missing on Tuesday.

He added: “Hopefully we’ll have some of them back for the Brentwood game on Boxing Day.

“Ryan Charles had a virus so he should be back and I think we’ll be fine for the games over Christmas, although Lance Akins is suspended now for three games for picking up ten bookings.

“He’ll be a big loss, but we have Damien Green to come back in, so we’ll be OK.”