EAST Thurrock United winger Joe Gardner says he is keen to string back-to-back victories together this weekend and fire his team up the National League South table.

Rocks have enjoyed a good start to the league season, but face a tough double-header against Dartford and Chelmsford City over the next four days.

Gardner, 25, linked up with the club in the summer from Braintree Town and has impressed in his early weeks at the club.

And he says six points this weekend would be a great boost for everyone, and could lift East Thurrock a significant amount of places in the standings.

“It is a good group and I really like what I have seen early on,” said Gardner. “The start so far has been better than what the points tally suggests. The biggest thing is getting back-to-back wins and that will help lift us up the league. We got big wins against Gosport (5-1) and Truro (6-0) but need a run as that is what pushes you on.

“This is the time you can make big moves up the league.

“These are big games and exciting tests. Both have good infrastructures so it will be a good challenge and indicator as to where we are.”

Gardner lives in Rayleigh and works in Warley so said moving to Rocks was a natural fit for him, after taking a spell out of the game at the end of last year, having left Concord Rangers.

“I took a break in December and I had a few months away and did all the things I couldn’t do when I was playing,” he said. “I went to Barcelona v Atletico Madrid and had some weekends away which was nice. Then I went to Braintree for a bit and that was a good experience.

In the summer I spoke to (manager) Jamie (Day) but I wanted to be closer to home.

“But I am enjoying it a lot here and this was a move that worked for me.”