THURROCK manager Mark Stimson says matches against AFC Hornchurch and Harlow Town will be crucial in determining Fleet’s destiny this season.

Stimson watched his side crush leaders AFC Sudbury 4-0 on Saturday, but he believes there are many more difficult tests ahead.

Fleet played Harlow at Ship Lane on Tuesday (after the Gazette went to press) with the reverse fixture next Saturday (February 13), while Thurrock still have to play Cray Wanderers twice and AFC Hornchurch.

And Stimson says it promises to be a tricky last three months of the season.

“I think if you can finish above AFC Hornchurch and Harlow Town at the end of the season then you have a great chance of going up,” he said.

“We played very well on Saturday against a good Sudbury side. The level of performance was very high and we were pleased to get the points.

“Results didn’t go our way at the start of the month but we are missing some key players and that doesn’t look like it is going to change.

“But there are some young players that have come into the team and they have performed well.

“We have got ourselves into a strong position but we have a very difficult run in. We have added experience in David Cowley and Michael Toner but we are missing two vital players that would strengthen any team.”

Thurrock could be without midfielder and captain Lewwis Spence and striker Charlie Stimson for the rest of the campaign.

Spence has not played since the 2-1 victory over Aveley at the start of December after sustaining a serious groin injury, while Stimson has been out of action since November’s FA Trophy defeat at Bury Town, after breaking his metatarsal.

Stimson said: “If you take two of any team’s strongest players out of the side they would be weaker for it.

“We have some good young players making their mark but Lewwis and Charlie are important.

“Lewwis is our leader and I am amazed he is still playing in this division and Charlie is an old-fashioned centre-forward, and all he wants to do is win.

“It looks like we may not have them back for the rest of the season but we must do our best without them.”

To see how Thurrock got on against Harlow visit thurrockgazette.co.uk/sport