WITHAM Town manager Adam Flint is still staying cautious over his team's chances of pressing for a finish in the Bostik League division north play-offs this year.

Having come through a difficult patch earlier in the campaign when they went 15 games without a win in all competitions, Witham are ending 2017 looking in much better shape.

Rather than looking over their shoulders at the relegation battle - as they were at the start of November - Flint admits thoughts can turn more towards the upper end of the table after seeing his team take 23 points from their last 11 games.

They kick-started their Christmas fixtures with a 1-0 win against Aveley on Friday and then won 2-0 at Barking on Boxing Day.

Witham will now be making a trip to Bury Town on Saturday and then have a mouthwatering Essex derby at home against Maldon & Tiptree on New Year's Day.

However, despite the upturn in their form, Flint isn't making any grand predictions about aspirations of a top-five finish this year.

"I don't think you can start thinking about play-offs until you get up close to them, but the next few games could be key for us and whether we can keep closing in on them," he said.

"We'll keep taking each game as it comes over this Christmas period as we now have a few games against sides above us.

"Our win against Aveley took us further clear of the sides at the bottom and I feel as though we are looking more at the teams above us now.

"If we can take points off those sides up there then we draw them towards us and we'll look at it then.

"What we have to do is be big and strong and look to keep keeping clean sheets.

"With the attacking threats that we have, if we can capitalise on that then we should be OK.

"We also have players coming back over the next few games and I'm expecting to have a few headaches over selection."

Meanwhile, Witham are enjoying having some Gallic influence in their squad after Flint beat several other clubs to the signing of French midfielder Moulaye Aidara.

"He has come from Dijon where he was playing in the French B division - that's their second division," said Flint.

"He's only 20 and we'll have to see how he goes, but he is very keen.

"He came on against Aveley and it took him a while to get to the pace of the game, but he will step it up and I know a number of other clubs were interested in getting him.

"He came to us because a good friend of my dad knows him and he has come over to try to make his living in the game over here.

"He can play out wide or in a central striking position and has looked good in training and we're hoping that we can help him do well."