BRIGHTLINGSEA Regent boss James Webster says he and his players are primed and ready for a crucial month.

In addition to the busy Christmas period, the R’s also have a hectic January.

They play nine matches next month – five at home and four away – in what is bound to be a pivotal spell, in terms of their play-off chances.

Regent’s next assignment is a Boxing Day trek to Dereham Town before a home match against Heybridge Swifts on New Year’s Eve.

“Christmas is always key and then we’ve got a massive January,” said Webster.

“It’s going to be such an important month with some big fixtures on the horizon, before we play (leaders) Maldon and Tiptree at the start of February.

“The table will really start to take shape and hopefully next year is going to be another successful one for the club.

“Our goal at the start of the season was the play-offs and nothing has changed.

“It’s still achievable and now we need to pick ourselves up (from Tuesday’s Alan Turvey Trophy defeat at Billericay Town) and get ourselves ready for Dereham.

“It’s a long way to go but we’ll take the strongest team we have.

“We’ll try and be professional and try and get a result.”

While disappointed to bow out of the cup in midweek, Webster believes it could prove advantageous in the long run.

“We’re out of all the cups now and can focus fully on the league,” he said.

“We haven’t got any extra midweek games to factor in so we can plan our training sessions and when to take breaks.

“Everything can be mapped out because there aren’t any extra games to be rearranged or thrown in.

“We can plot our season out until the end of April.”

Left-back Jake Gould could return over the festive period, having been sidelined for several weeks with a stomach problem.

“Jake had a good session with the physio on Tuesday,” said Webster.

“He did the warm-up and I would have liked to get him on, but he’ll certainly be involved over Christmas.

“Whether he’ll start or not I don’t know but he’ll be in the squad and available.

“It’s been ongoing throughout the season.

“The only way it was going to get better was for him to have four weeks of complete rest, without the exertion of football.

“We thought this would be a good time, because of all the cup games.”

WITHAM TOWN are at home to Brentwood Town on Boxing Day (3pm).