Heybridge Swifts are on a roll heading into Christmas - and assistant boss Barry Lakin insists they can make even bigger strides in 2008.

The Scraley Road outfit are ninth in the table, handily placed after three wins from their last four matches.

In recent weeks they have got the better of Harlow 1-0, Maidstone 2-1 and Carshalton Athletic 3-0.

And now, heading into the busy festive period, they are setting their sights on a top-five finish, which would secure them a play-off spot.

"We're on a very decent run heading into Christmas," said Lakin, right-hand man to Swifts boss Brian Statham.

"Those victories have given us more and more belief and that, in turn, breeds confidence.

"Right from the first day of the season we've always felt we can be involved in the promotion picture.

"So it's very pleasing, at the halfway point in the campaign, to be in the position we are - although the next four games are vital."