BENFLEET are hoping to remain as the Division Two pacesetters when they welcome sixth-placed South Woodford to Woodside Park tomorrow.

Having won promotion from Division Three last term, Benfleet have acclimatised to life in Division Two seemlessly and triumphed in both of their opening two fixtures.

But captain Rob Zammit insists Benfleet must keep their feet on the ground as their objective is to stave off an immediate relegation.

Zammit said: “We’ve made a good start to the season, but it’s only a start.

“We are playing teams that don’t know much about us having not been in Division Two for a while.

“That can work for us but it may also work against us at times because we also don’t know much about some of the other teams.

“Our aim is to stay up. As far as I’m aware, we have only been promoted a few times in our history but we have always been relegated the season after.

“Hopefully we can stay up because it would be disappointing to go straight back down after all of the hard work we put in last season.

“But we’re on a good run at the moment and it would be great to continue that with another win against South Woodford.

“I’ve never played them before but I know they’re a good team and it will be a tough test for us.”

And Zammit believes having a close-knit group has been key to Benfleet’s flying start.

“Momentum from last year and a good team spirit have been key to our good start,” added the 25-year-old.

“We are all the same sort of age and have a good energy about us.

“Our squad is exactly the same as last season other than one player as Taylor Casson has joined us from Canvey Island.”

Old Southendian & Southchurch have also enjoyed a perfect start to the campaign and boast a 100 per cent winning record.

Third-placed Horndon-on-the-Hill are set to make the trip to Garon Park tomorrow, with the Old Boys eager to remain hot on Benfleet’s heels.

Just five points separate the division’s top two sides.

And Old Southendian captain Andrew McGarry, whose side finished fifth in the Division Two standings last term, will be eager to continue his fine run of form.

McGarry has taken five wickets from the opening two outings of the campaign and he is keen to lead by example.