GRAVESEND & Northfleet's assistant manager Phil Handford believes the club’s four-game unbeaten run is down to the players getting more used to each other.

The Fleet drew 3-3 with Conference leaders Hereford on Saturday to stay clear of the relegation zone with 11 points from 11 games.

Handford, who took charge of the first-team at Hereford while manager Andy Ford was on holiday, hands back the reins for the home game with lowly Forest Green on Saturday.

He said: “For a club like ours to go to an intimidating place like Hereford and get a result is magnificent.

“At the start of the season, we had an almost completely new team because we brought in so many different players, but they are now getting to know each other. It takes time to get used to playing in this league, but the results are coming.”

The increased familiarity with playing in the Conference, according to Handford, has also helped Gravesend’s disciplinary record.

However the Fleet, who have a £10,000 suspended Football Association fine hanging over their heads from last season, will be concerned about getting into trouble with the FA again after picking up their fifth red card this season at the weekend.

Handford explained: “The two yellow cards for Chris Moore were very harsh. But it’s something we’ve had to deal with because the standard of refereeing in this division is very different to anything we’ve had in previous seasons.

“It’s no coincidence that the teams who have gone up into the Conference this year are also suffering with poor discipline.”

Club secretary Roly Edwards added: “Our players’ discipline is very important to us and we have a set of extremely strict rules, probably the most strict in the league.

“The FA will assess the situation around Christmas time but we are working hard to ensure they don’t contact us.”

Ironically, Gravesend’s good run of form has coincided with three-game suspensions for Justin Skinner and Steve McKimm, who were both dismissed against Scarborough early last month.

The duo return to the squad this weekend, alongside Matt Lee and Francis Duku, who have both recovered from thigh injuries.

Gravesend squad for Forest Green: Wilkerson, O'Reilly, Strouts, Shearer, Moore, McClements, Owen, Miller, Gradley, Walshe, Pinnock, Haworth, Perkins, Drury, Duku, Lee, Skinner, McKimm.