Ben Smith believes everyone in Isthmian South East is desperate for Ramsgate to slip up.

Boss Smith says his league leaders have a chance to cause “an awful lot of damage” over Christmas and New Year.

They host Herne Bay on Boxing Day and Sevenoaks on Saturday, December 30, followed by a trip to title rivals Sittingbourne on New Year’s Day (all 3pm).

TJ Jadama scored a hat-trick in a 5-0 win at Erith & Belvedere on Sunday as Rams continued their relentless form. Joe Taylor and Sinnkaye Christie also struck.

Since losing to Sevenoaks on the opening day, they’ve won 12 of the next 13 matches, with their only dropped points coming in a 1-1 draw against fellow contenders Cray Valley.

They’re still only three points clear of Three Bridges, albeit with two games in hand, but Rams are firm favourites.

“The mentality of the players has been incredible,” said Smith.

“We’ve got to keep that going.

“That’s the hardest thing and now it’s a big Christmas period.

“We could cause an awful lot of damage to everyone over Christmas or the pack could reel us back in.

“One of two things is going to happen and I know what everyone else is desperate for.

“They want us to slip up - 100%. From day one it’s been about Ramsgate’s money.

“A lot of clubs will look at that money aspect and go, ‘We want to beat them’ but now we’re doing well, and we’re up there, that’s extra incentive as well, isn’t it?

“So I feel like we’re playing the best version of these other teams in the league.

“That’s part and parcel of being up the top of the league.

“I think, at the minute, we’ve got to be close to one of the best-ever starts in this league, from any club.

“The players have shown incredible character and attitude and desire because it isn’t easy going from playing Woking in the FA Cup in front of 3,000 people, to playing in front of 20 people at Broadbridge Heath.

“But you know what can happen in football, so it’s all about the next game.

“At the moment, the way we’re going, the other teams have got to be perfect.

“That’s all we can do – make sure the other teams have to be perfect. I can’t ask for any more than that.”

Ramsgate came from a goal down to beat Herne Bay 2-1 over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

The Boxing Day meeting at Southwood pits managers Smith and Steve Lovell against their old clubs but that’s history now.

“It’s just another game,” said Smith. “We’ve got to make sure we start well and play our game.

“On the Bank Holiday Monday, I thought we got involved in head tennis.

“We’ve got to make it a football game and play the way we do.”