HEYBRIDGE Swifts boss Cliff Akurang is confident his side are ready for the new Ryman Division North season.

After a mid-table finish last season, Akurang will be hoping he can make that extra push up the table.

The Scraley Road manager said: “I’m always confident going into the new season, we’ll go into every game to win it.

“Everyone is beatable and everyone can beat you, we need to have that mentality.

“It comes down to what you do on the day, how you prepare and the mental focus on the pitch from your players.”

With an opening fixture against Thamesmead Town on August 8 approaching, the Swifts’ boss is positive about his squad’s development so far.

He added: “The boys have progressed really nicely over pre-season and I’m happy with what we’ve done.

“It’s exciting to be down the final straight now and there’s still competition for places.”

Before Akurang’s side can get started, however, they still face the challenge of Leiston in their final pre-season friendly.

He said: “Leiston will give us a good game, they’re more realistic opponents than we’ve had.

“It gives us a chance to play a team at a similar level to our own, it’s a reality check just before the season starts.

“After that game we should hopefully be in a good position to kickstart our season.”

In their latest pre-season games Swifts lost out 2-1 to a Dagenham & Redbridge Academy XI on Saturday and 4-2 defeat against Ryman premier Needham Market on Tuesday night.

Joshua Fagbohun opened the scoring against the Daggers in the first half but the visitors came back to take the win.

Akurang said: “I was pleased with the first-half performance against Dagenham, we were a bit unlucky to concede against the run of play.

“Overall, the performance was pleasing, though.”

Fagbohun and defender Liam Thomas have now signed on for Swifts.