MANAGER Brad Quinton feels his Braintree Town team are heading into a crunch part of their season and their bid to secure Vanarama National League South promotion during his first season at the Iron helm.

With the festive period successfully negotiated, the Iron took themselves back up to second in the table with their 4-0 win against East Thurrock United last weekend, but Quinton expects the next few months to define his team’s chances to press for honours this year.

And he is demanding full focus to make sure they live up to their potential.

He said: “We just have to concentrate on what we are doing as there are still lots of games to come.

“It’s important we stay focused on that because nothing is won in January.

“February and March are important months and it’s important that we kick on now and go on a run.

“Scoring four goals at home against East Thurrock is a huge credit to the boys so why can’t we do that now?

“You need to have two hands to count the chances we are creating week-in week-out and if we can convert them and cut out the silly mistakes then we can be unstoppable.

“We just have to stay confident and focused on what we are doing.”

Quinton is pleased with how his young squad are handling the pressures of being in the promotion race, but said he and his coaching staff are looking at ways that they can make their challenge even stronger.

He added: “There are a few things we are looking at but it has to be right for us and it would mean one going out on loan.

“At the moment, though, we are doing OK and we have to stay within ourselves with the budget.

“We can’t go overspending because of what happened last season as that’s the way you go and find yourself getting relegated.

“We have to keep doing what we are doing and there is no pressure on us.”