Nicky Southall has pledged to ring the changes as his side take a three-game break from Ryman League action this week after two results which he hopes will kick-start their season.

After collecting just nine points from nine games to open their Division 1 South campaign, the Oystermen produced their best display of the season to win 2-1 at Leatherhead on Saturday.

They followed that up with a battling goalless draw at last season’s losing play-off finalists Faversham on Tuesday night.

The four-point haul from two of the potentially most difficult of the season has sparked optimism that Town can improve upon their current 14th-place and close the gap on the play-off race.

Southall said: “Of course I would have taken four points over the last two games but when you turn up and see an outfield player in goal as we did on Tuesday, you think ‘maybe we have got a chance here to get something.’

“All-in-all, though, four points – I’m delighted with the effort. We’ve got a young team and some talented boys. They put such a massive effort in at Leatherhead that maybe we looked a bit leggy late on in the second half (on Tuesday).”

Town welcome Hythe to The Belmont on Saturday in an Isthmian League Cup second round tie rearranged from midweek due to both sides being out of the FA Cup.

Herne Bay are the visitors on Tuesday night (7.45pm) for a Kent Senior Cup second round clash, with Sittingbourne to follow in the FA Trophy the following weekend.

Southall admitted: “We have a lot of games coming up so I have got to be mindful of that, a lot more Kent derbies. We’ve got to have a look through the squad and see who we’ll go with Saturday.”

He added: “The League Cup game is a bit different and we’ll see players that have not had games recently.

“We’ve got James Morrish, who is my captain coming back from America this week, Laurence Harvey has missed games through suspension, Jake Mackenzie missed the last game through work and Dan Wells.

“We have players who need games and we need to make sure everyone is ready in terms of match fitness, so maybe the next couple of games will be geared towards doing that.”

Southall also paid tribute to keeper Luke Watkins, who ensured a clean-sheet at Faversham with a stunning save from a Wayne Wilson drive.

Southall said: “Luke Watkins has been the find of the season for me.”