by Alex Hoad

Gravesend's lead coach says Gs have reassessed their goals for the season and want to finish top of their mini-league in National 3 South East.

The top four sides have pulled away from the field but Paul Hathaway says Gs want to be best of the rest in their debut season at the level.

With second-bottom Diss - who have won just two of their 12 games this season - visiting on Saturday, Hathaway is confident sixth-placed Gravesend can close the eight-point gap to fifth before they face a trip to third-placed Hertford and a home game against second-placed Dorking in the two weeks before the Christmas break.

On the eve of the season's midway point, Hathaway said: "We know we are able to compete in this league and are getting better and better. The players are learning and we have been picking up plenty of bonus points in the process.

"We are playing against sides who have been playing at this level for a number of years. The players have adapted well."

Hathaway added: "In this division there are 'haves and have nots.' There are the top four sides and then the group in the middle of the table are pretty much on a par.

"Our initial target this season was to get in the top seven but we have reassessed and think we can get fifth. We want to try and win the second tier in the division."

Do you think Gravesend can clinch a top-five spot? Have your say below.