WITHAM Town manager Adam Flint has hailed his team’s defending after seeing them keep a third clean sheet in a row in Bostik League division north.

The Town boss was delighted as they beat Barking 2-0 on Boxing Day with a win that was added to similar pre-Christmas shut outs against AFC Sudbury and Aveley and he is pleased that they are building results on being solid at the back.

It has helped Witham extend their recent good form and they have now taken 23 points from their last 11 games to place themselves on the fringes of the race for a finish in the division north play-offs.

And with players set to return at the back in the next few games, Flint can see his defence getting even tighter.

“It was a good result at Barking as we defended really well,” he said.

“Even at two-nil up, we still had people throwing their bodies on the line to keep things out and (goalkeeper) Bobby Mason made a couple of really good saves.

“We did well with keeping another clean sheet and that’s three in a row for us now.

“They put us under pressure, but we stood strong and keeping clean sheets is good, not just for Bobby, but the back line as well.

“We were well worth the three points and it was a really good win for us.

“Maybe we are getting the luck now that we weren’t earlier in the season, but we’ll take the points and move on to Bury now.

“It’s starting to happen that we are pulling sides in from above us and if we can get a positive result at Bury then we’ll move above them.

“We’ll head there with confidence.

“We are looking better as a team now with the changes to the squad that we have made.

“We had players who weren’t available for the game at Barking and they’ll be coming back so there are options for me.

“I know that means some are going to be disappointed as they won’t be playing but I spoke to them after the game at Barking about that and they accept it.

“Even though we had some not playing on Boxing Day, they still came along to watch and that’s good to see.

Flint said central defender Lance Akins would be available again after a four-game suspension, but Luke Mallett picked up a groin problem at Barking and may be a doubt for Saturday’s game.