New Leiston manager Steve Pitt is hoping that Saturday’s 2-1 win against East Thurrock will kick-start their season.

Leiston travelled to Thurrock in the relegation places of the Ryman Premier in a woeful run of form but turned in a sterling performance to come away with a result that could really ignite their campaign.

“I’m pleased,” said Pitt, who – having replaced Danny Laws at Victory Road –got his managerial career at the Blues off to a dream start.

“It’s a solid start and certainly one to build a platform on.

“I thought it was a terrific away performance in the circumstances and an absolutely outstanding result.”

An fortuitous early first-half own goal and then a second from midfielder Craig Parker gave Leiston a two-goal cushion to protect at the weekend and, despite Thurrock grabbing a goal back in the second period, the Suffolk side held on comfortably to record their first league win since the end of August.

“I think if you asked anyone who went to the game they would say that we were the better side all round and deserved to win,” said Pitt.

“I thought we were in total control of the game until Adam Tann’s injury which did disrupt us a little, but we dug in deep and deserved to hold on to the three points.”

Ironically, Leiston turned their season around last campaign with a hard-fought 2-2 draw away to East Thurrock.

Without a win and struggling at the foot of the table, the Blues took away a point that day before then going on a 12-match unbeaten run, something Pitt is hoping for again.

“It’s all about getting momentum,” said the new Blues boss.

“It is essential for any team to put a run of results together and that’s no different for us, especially considering the position we are in.

“The games come thick and fast and there are always opportunities to build these runs together.”

Saturday’s victory was the Blues’ first in 10 league games and helped propel them out of the fearsome relegation zone that they had recently slumped into.

Now just one point and two places behind 15th-place East Thurrock, Pitt is only looking at the teams in front of him despite an extremely tough fixture schedule in November.

With trips to high-flying Kingstonian, league leaders Maidstone United and Wealdstone coming up in the next month, as well as the visit of second-placed Dulwich Hamlet, Pitt knows his side are up against it but is confident of getting points on the board.

“We’re taking one game at a time,” he said. “I said before that it will be a big challenge for us as a club but me and Steve Ball, as well as the players, need to fulfil our promises of delivering on the pitch. If we can do that, we’ll be fine.

Pitt takes his side to Needham Market tonight (weather permitting), looking to progress in the League Cup.