Lowestoft Town will be looking to make it five games unbeaten when they travel to Merstham tomorrow afternoon, writes MARK ARMSTRONG

The Trawlerboys have been in excellent form lately following up their 5-0 win at Burgess Hill Town with a 2-1 victory at home to Kingstonian last weekend.

Hot-shot Jake Reed got both the goals for the Blues in a gritty display against a Kingstonian side that has designs of promotion.

The three points took the Trawlerboys up to 15th in the table and a win this weekend could take them into the top half of the table after an indifferent start to their campaign.

Manager Ady Gallagher admitted in the wake of their win over the Londoners that his team have played far better this season and not taken victory.

However, that was perhaps what pleased him most about the afternoon.

“It wasn’t a great performance but I’m struggling to think of the last time we’ve won a game when we haven’t been totally at our best,” said Gallagher.

“We had to dig in right the way through. It was a strange game. We had opportunities in the first half but I didn’t think we were that great. We had enough chances to win the game in the first half and we were dogged in the second half.

“We created that one opportunity that gave us the second goal.

“When you’ve got six players unavailable then you have to dig it out.”

Lowestoft were deprived of trying to keep their good run going in midweek thanks to Billericay’s FA Cup replay against Barking, which they won 2-1 to set up a first round proper tie against Leatherhead.

It did however give the Blues the chance to rest a few aching limbs.

Gallagher had to make do without six first-team squad members last weekend but will be hoping to have Shaun Bammant back available after his recent injury problems.

The former Dereham man has been struggling with an Achilles issue but the hope is that rest will allow the problem to settle down and play pain-free.

Rossi Jarvis, Ollie Humphreys and Andrew Fisk remain long-term absentees for the trip to Merstham, who go into the game off the back of a 2-0 win against Margate in midweek.