HULLBRIDGE Sports will be keen to extend their fine run of form when they welcome Heybridge Swifts to the Ryan’s Heating Stadium tonight.

Sports have recorded back-to-back Isthmian North wins for the first time in their history after following up a victory at Cambridge City with a 2-0 triumph against AFC Sudbury at the weekend.

And, although he knows that Heybridge will prove difficult to beat, Hullbridge boss Darren Manning is looking forward to the challenge.

“We haven’t had the easiest of starts to the season when you look at the fixtures,” said Manning, whose side were crowned the Essex Senior League champions on the final day of last term.

“After tonight, we will have played five teams who will be in the mix for promotion or the play-offs this season.

“We have regrouped and are starting to get used to the division, but we know that Heybridge are a very good side.

“They have some really good players and it’s going to be another tough challenge, but all games are at this level.

“We have prepared for games like this and we’re in a good run of form at the moment, so we will be looking to extend that.”

Karl Duguid’s Heybridge are among the favourites to win promotion to the third tier of non-league football, but they make the trip to the Ryan’s Heating Stadium having needed to come from behind to seal a 1-1 draw at Dereham Town on Saturday.

Sports, meanwhile, recorded their maiden Isthmian North home victory by seeing off Sudbury and Manning is hoping to see his side replicate their performance.

Manning added: “The players stuck to the gameplan and it was really pleasing to put in a good performance as well as get the three points.

“After losing both of our first two home games of the season, we went into the game with the same mindset as we have away from home.

“It was important to make sure that we were well structured, defensively sound, well organised and then clinical going forward.

“We were and I thought we deserved to pick up the three points.”