HADLEIGH United may have won five league games in a row and scored four goals in each of their last four games, but manager Stuart Crawford is not getting carried away.

Victories over Ely City (2-0), Stanway Rovers (1-0), Thetford Town (4-2), Felixstowe & Walton United (4-0) and Wivenhoe Town (4-2) have propelled the Brettsiders to fifth place in the Premier Division.

Add in a 4-1 win at Stanway in the FA Vase and it is clear to see Hadleigh have found their touch in front of goal.

But Crawford said: “They have been games we would expect to win, with all due respect to the other teams.

“When you come up against the likes of Wisbech, Dereham, Brantham and Gorleston, who are all flying, if you can win those games you know you are on the right road.

“We have been doing well going forward – Scott Chaplin has done well and offers us something different to what we have had in the past – but at the other end we have still been leaking goals, with Thetford and Wivenhoe both scoring twice against us.”

The turnaround in Hadleigh’s fortunes in front of goal has come as no surprise to Crawford.

“People raised their eyebrows when we lost our first two league games, but we didn’t have any strikers available at that time, which did affect the results as we didn’t score in those games.

He said: “In pre-season you always have three or four players unavailable due to holidays and it takes a few weeks to get settled and find your shape and personnel early on which is why you always get some strange results.

“But we have settled down now and it is about gaining momentum and getting the right team spirit in the dressing room and everyone pulling in the same direction which all leads to success.

“We have a good squad and as long as we steer clear of injuries and continue to score goals we will do well.”

Hadleigh entertain third-placed Mildenhall Town at The Millfield tomorrow, and Crawford said: “They have had quite a settled side for the last 18 months and have got a good togetherness. They are good going forward and in Andrew Wood (who has scored eight goals in eight games) have someone who scores goals.

“It will be a difficult game, but fingers crossed we can beat them to keep our run going.”

Long-term absentees Danny Allen (broken metatarsal) and Liam Jennings (medial knee ligaments) are Hadleigh’s only injury concerns.